Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Mother Shivamma Tai

February 10, 1989, is a red letter day for not only Bangaloreans but to all Sai devotees all over India and abroad. For the first time, a unique temple has been established on this day wherein we find it 'Bhikshatana Moorthy' of Sai Baba - the marble idol is in the form of Sai Baba going for alms. The spirit behind this installation of 'Bhikshatana Moorthy' of Sai Baba is holy mother Shivamma Tai, the 99-year old woman saint living in Madiwala of Bangalore, who had the rare privilege of seeing Sai Baba in 1918. In no other Sai temple all over the world you see the Moorthy in this manner.

Text Box:

Mother Shivamma Tai with Bhikshatana Moorthy

As holy mother Shivamma Tai performed the installation of Sai Baba's 'Bhikshatana Moorthy', hundreds offered their 'Bhakti' as alms. Swami Brahmananda of Chinmaya Mission, Bangalore, and Swami Vidya Narayana Thirtha of Dwaraka Badrikashram gave the benediction address. Mr. R. Seshadri and Dr. P. S. Narayana Rao of Sri Sai Spiritual Centre addre­ssed the gathering as to the uniqueness of this Sai temple. A melodious bhajan by Shri Hariharan was organized by the Sai bandhus of Ulsoor Sai Mandir, led by Mrs. Vimala Rai.

Mother Shivamma Tai honored Saint Bhagawan Das and Mr. Krishnappa along with other Sai devotees who were responsible for the installation of this unique Moorthy.

It is hoped that Sai devotees will make it a point to visit Shivamma Tai's Ashram to offer the 'Bhiksha' of 'Bhakthi' to Sai Maharaj.

On March, 16 at 7-30 a.m. holy mother Shivamma Thai (99 years old woman saint living in the outskirts of

Bangalore, Madiwala, who had seen Sai Baba in 1918) inaugurated the Saptaha by lighting a lamp. As she

fit the lamp, Sai Baba nodded his assent and exhibited His omnipresence as the garland placed on the

photograph snapped in the centre.


Friday, March 7, 2008

Sri Ramachandra Chaitanya Swamiji

His Holiness Bramhachari Sri Ramachandra Chaitanya Swamiji formarly known as Shri Pulipaka Venkata Rama Rao was born on Saturday, 17th August, 1963 at 08-30 a.m. to the pious and god fearing couple Shri P.V.V. Raghava Rao and Smt. Janaki Devi in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.

He had his Primary Education at Guntur and his Graduation from the Andhra University 1983.
Since childhood, Shri Swamiji was inclined towards Spirituality. At the age of 19, he met His Gurudev Parama Pujya Acharya Shri Ekkirala Bharadwaja for the first time at meditation center in Rajamundry. During the year 1982 Swamiji was attending to Meditation Classes at Maharshi Institute of Creative Intelligence, Rajamundry. Shri T.D. Krishna Murthy, instructor at the Institute and disciple of Pujya Master happened to introduce Swamiji to Rev. Master on 13th October 1982 in the Meditation Hall Maharshi Institute of Creative Integelence, Rajamundry. Pujya Master was then on a tour for discourses on Shri Sai Baba at Rajamundry, Kakinada and other coastal areas nearby. In this very first meeting, he was overawed by the spiritual eminence of His Master - a self realised Saint. The very sight of Pujya Master made such an impact on Swamiji that his life appeared meaningless without His Master any longer. He was in constant touch with Master. Finally in 1985 with the permission from his parents he left his home permanently for his Gurudev’s abode. Since the Swamiji was reluctant to even visit his parents in the event of not granting written permission for staying with his Gurudev, his father had no other option except to grant him the necessary written permission. He spent his entire time in the holy company of His Master, serving Him accompanying Him on discourses, assisting Him in literary works, etc.

Gurugita says that "a true disciple is one who serves one’s Guru’s family (wife & children) with the same commitment and dedication as he serves His Guru".

After Master Shri Ekkirala Bharadwaja attained Mahasamadhi on 12th April, 1989 he continued serving the divine family of his Master with the same reverence and dedication. Immensely pleased with his services, Divine Mother once remarked that "Chaitanya is our Adopted Son".

On 6th August, 1998 Shri Saibaba of Shirdi appeared physically to Pujya Swamiji and ordered him to remain a Celebate. Accordingly, the vow of Bramhacharya (celibacy ) was given by the Divine consort of his Master, Mother Alivelu Mangatayaru and re-christened his name as "Bramhachari Sri Ramachandra Chaitanya" thus Pulipaka Venkata Rama Rao got transformed into Pujya Bramhachari Sri Ramachandra Chaitanya Swamiji.

The very Mission of Pujya Swamiji’s life is to spread His Master’s divine messages on Sri Sai Baba across the GLOBE.

With this Mission in view, Sri Master Universal Sai Trust and Acharya Bharadwaja Peace Foundation, Spiritual, Non-profitable and Service Oriented Organisations were founded by Pujya Bramhachari Sri Ramachandra Chaitanya Swamiji with the blessings of Divine Mother Alivelu Mangatayaru.




Saturday, March 1, 2008

Sri Kumar Baba

Sri Kumar Baba

The year 1995, the person Shri R.V. Kumar of Ashok Nagar, Chennai , a Music Director by profession happened to visit the Sai Baba Temple at Injambakkam, Chennai, because of his friends. While in the Mandir he placed his head on the Divine Padukas, and instantly heard a voice saying ‘I desire to unite all the people and uplift them spiritually. I need to use you as a tool to accomplish this.


When will you come within my fold?’

It was Shirdi Baba himslef talking to him. However Shri R.V. Kumar did not take this too seriously and thought probably it was his imagination.A few months later he made another visit to the same temple. And lo and behold he heard the same voice this time loudly and quite distinctly. He could not possibly ignore the voice.

But there was a hitch. He was basically a devotee of Goddess Meenakshi of Madurai. And he also possessed the divine power of talking to her intimately. He pondered over this voice calling him to Baba’s fold. He decided to seek an answer to this at Madurai, at the holy shrine of Goddess Meenakshi.

When he sat meditating before the Sanctum Sanctorum, a six foot tall figure of Shirdi Baba walked out of the sanctum, and he visualised this in his deep meditation. He also heard the Mother’s divine voice telling him that Shirdi Baba was a Great Mahan who lived even after his Mahasamidhi. She further said that following Baba’s footsteps was the best path for him.

He was thus convinced, but he was perplexed and confused. but how was he to proceed?


Sri Kumar Baba was chosen by Shri Sai Baba himself to serve His true , loyal and faithful devotees to whom He had promised to take care of - birth after birth. He was born on 27-3-1947 to Sri Vedantam and Smt Kalyani at Madurai. Due to our merits in our previous birth , we are all lucky to be in the association of this divine personality, who has sacrificed his life for uplifting His devotees. He uses his powers for the benefit of mankind conferring both temporal benefits and spiritual benefits. He started the Baba Prayer centre in 1996 and even today conducts mass prayer for His devotees on Thursdays. Needless to say that the devotees request is fulfilled with the blessings of Shirdi Sai Baba. He says that he is an emissary of Shridi Sai Baba and acts according to His instructions only. The Anna Baba Mandir was constructed in a record time of ten months without any propaganda or publicity and with the contributions from 108 devotees called Sai Souls( a name given by Shirdi Sai) mostly belonging to the middle income group. Sri Kumar Baba does not prescribe any Homam or costly Parikaram for people who approach him with their problems. His method of advising the devotee is very unique –prayer and repetition of the Lords name with total surrender to Sai. In the last six years, 24 couples who had been childless for more than 15 years have been blessed with children. Shirdi Sai Baba has asked Sri Kumar Baba to give the towel he uses to wipe the Shridi Sai Moorthy on Thursdays to cancer patients, who have to place this towel under their pillow. Likewise fifteen cancer patients have been cured. Moreover every Thursdays Shri Kumar Baba conducts Mass Prayer. Sai fulfills the sincere request of the devotees who participate in this prayer for six weeks personally.

Birth of BABA PRAYER CENTRE, Ashok Nagar, Chennai 83

As per Sri Sai Baba's advice, a Prayer center was commenced at Ashok Nagar which was called as Baba prayer Centre. Devotees started attending the Thursday meditation. Devotees who attended the prayer and meditation for six consecutive weeks had all their problems solved. Apart from this, Sri Kumar Baba also prayed for devotees who contacted him by phone, letters or email.


Baba then told him, ‘now that you have come within my fold, there is no action that you will perform independently. You will now be my tool and perform all that I wish and desire to do. You are at my behest and I will control all your deeds. I am Anna Baba and you shall henceforth be called Kumar Baba’.

Without any propaganda, the number of devotees increased from hundred to thousand. The Baba Prayer Centre needed a more spacious place to accommodate the devotees. With the blessings of Baba, and, due to the efforts of Guruji Sri Kumar Baba, this Anna Baba Mandir was born.

A unique Mandir for the Guru by His Disciple

In the year 2000, when Sri Kumar Baba went to Tirumala to have the darshan of Lord Venkateswara (Balaji), He heard the divine voice of the Lord saying “Shirdi Sai Baba and I are one and the same. Baba’s erstwhile Guru Venkusa was my manifestation”. When Venkusa died, he entreated his disciples not to bury his body, but to burn it and then dig the area. He foretold that they would find the statue of Lord Venkateswara, which the devotees did find and later built a temple for Him. The temple can still be seen at Selu, near Manmad. Thus Baba proved to Sri Kumar Baba that he was the manifestation of Lord Venkateswara.

We have heard of disciples building temples for the Guru, but here we come across the reverse. Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi was an ardent devotee of His Guru Venkusa and Venkusa is an incarnation of Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala. When Sri Kumar Baba started the Baba Prayer Centre in July 1996 at Ashok Nagar, it never struck him that he would build a Mandir for Baba , for he not only lacked the inclination but also the resources. On one Thursday, in the year 2000, when Sri Kumar Baba was in deep meditation he had a vision of Lord Venkateswara besieging him to build a Mandir for Baba and He assured Sri Kumar Baba that He would provide the necessary resources as and when he required. He further said that He (Lord Venkateswara) would also find a place in the Mandir. Thus the Guru was instrumental in providing a mandir for His most ardent devotee. This Mandir has also found space for not only Lord Venkateswara but also Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Krishna, Lord Rama ,Lord Shiva and Lord Maruthi as, Sri Sai Baba is the manifestation of all the Gods. Are there not instances in Sai Satcharita to vouch for these? Thus The Anna Baba Mandir has united the Saivaite and Vaishnavite sects in Hinduism.

Nine fold path of Guruji Sri Kumar Baba

Guruji Sri Kumar Baba also mentioned that Sri Shirdi Sai Baba has given him certain rules and regulations to observe and follow meticulously.

  1. Not to participate in any auspicious or inauspicious event like marriage or death in any household.
  2. To Listen to the devotees pleas and petitions and pray for them.
  3. Not to perform any pooja or ritual at the mandir except Anna Dhan and meditation which is an answer to all ills.
  4. Not to borrow or lend money.
  5. Where there is excess wealth, there is sin. So Shirdi Sai Baba besieged Sri Kumar Baba to construct this Anna Baba Mandir by accepting money only from the poor and middle class people This money could be donated only by 108 donors and they would be called as ‘Sai Souls’.
  6. Sri Sai Baba instructed Sri Kumar Baba to be patient, calm and loving to His devotees. He promised that He is the manifestation of all Gods and all Gurus, Lord Venkateswara and Goddess Meenakshi would answer their prayers.
  7. Shirdi Baba emphasised to Sri Kumar Baba that he was only a class monitor, taking care of the class (the world at large) and that Baba was the real Guru or Teacher.
  8. Shirdi Baba has said that in the 60th year of Sri Kumar Baba He would proclaim to the world that both are one and the same.
  9. Love Peace and Annadanam should be his life’s goal.

SHRI SAI NARAYAN BABA OF PANVEL



SHRI SAI NARAYAN BABA OF PANVEL

Shri Sai Narayan Baba hardly sleeps at night (as Shirdi Baba used to do) and gets up daily at 1.40a.m. mid-night for his daily Sadhana and Sansthan Work. At 2.30a.m. he along with Sri R.K Nihalani (the Sansthan Office Manager & Security Incharge) and Armed Security Staff, inspects the entire premises of the Sansthan which included all the rooms, bath-rooms, water-taps, electric fans, lights, cleanliness of "Sri Sai Kutir", "Sri Pandu Kutir", "Sri Pandu-Baug" and Sansthan Gaushala Which consists of Holstein Cows of Holland. Further Sri Sai Narayan Baba along with Security Staff visits Sri Bhagawati Sai Mandir, near Panvel Railway Station and personally checks the safety of the temple.

On coming back he is engaged in his daily Sadhana. At 7.30 a.m. when the temple Abhishek, Pooja and Aarati gets over Sri Sai Narayan Baba visits the three Samadhis i.e. Swami Karunanandaji, Sri Pandu Maharaj and Sri Tiger Baba for offering flowers and prayers. Further once again he inspects all the cows and calves in the Gaushala which is named as "Sri Bhagawati Sai Free Milk Gaushala" i.e. the entire milk is distributed free to poor and sickly children, unconnected with the Sansthan daily in the morning at 8.00 a.m. and evening at 8.00 p.m. respectively.

After inspecting the gaushala, Sri Sai Narayan Baba visits the office of Vice Chairman, Prem Navani in the Sai Kutir, where he writes his thought of the day on the Table calender of the Vice-Chairman. This writing of 'a thought of the day' of Sri Sai Narayan Baba started from Tuesdfay the 16th September 1997. Since Sri Sai Narayan Baba is observing 'Mown-Vrat' i.e. in silence fromn 8th January 1997, afetr the Nirwan of his Rev. father-cum-Sadhguru Swami Karunanandaji and ever remains in the Sansthan without going out. 'His daily thoughts' are read out during the morning and evening Sathsangh in Sai Kutir.

Sri Sai Narayan Baba's Sansthan's Address is:


Sri Bhagwati Sai Sansthan,
Plot no 400/1,
Near Panvel Railway Station
Panvel(Dist Raigad), 410 206, Maharashtra, INDIA.
Tel: (9122) 7453331,7451001.
Fax: (9122) 7453333.
( 40 Kms From Bombay, the Road Going To Poona)

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Sri Sainathuni Sarath Babuji

In 1989 Sadguru Sri Sainathuni Sarath Babuji (affectionately called "Guruji") made shirdi, the sacred adobe of his beloved sadguru, his home. "Sri Babuji represents for many Sai devotees, in India and abroad, a living paragon of the beatific Path of Sri Sai Baba. His whole persona conveys, with great simplicity and naturalness, a palpable and immediate experience of the sacred and numinous."

Sri Babuji is an ardent and matchless devotee of Sai Baba, whose entire life is a testimony to the grace and might of Sai. Recently, when asked to compose something on Sri Babuji, a ten-year-old wrote simply, "Guruji is Baba's greatest devotee", while one of his oldest devotees made the poetic observation, "Sai Baba is a book, and Guruji's life is the commentary on that text."
Sri Sainathuni Sarath Babuji
The infinite love which Sri Babuji cherishes for Sai Baba can be seen in everything he does, and it is that love and grace which pulls so many to him and which he showers on those lucky enough to come within his ambit. Although Sri Babuji insists that he is not a teacher or a guru, many devotees recognize him as their sadguru, and thousands are attracted to his presence and find their lives transformed as a result. People come to take his darshan, seek his guidance, ask for help with practical matters and relief from their afflictions, and to get the bliss of spiritual fulfilment.

Sri Babuji gives us a new outlook on spirituality, before which many of our cherished concepts seem old and worn out. Similarly, taking darshan of a holy place acquires new meaning under Sri Babuji's guidance. Discovering Shirdi and experiencing Baba acquires a thrill which never wanes there is never a dull moment and no end to the experience under Sri Babuji's influence and inspiration, the flames of interest are fanned ever further.

Sri Babuji encourages devotees to find out what they really need and to ask for that, so that their lives have a clear direction and meaning. His teaching is at once down-to-earth and subtle. In the manner of Sai Baba he encourages the fulfillment of basic material needs. He says: "Concretization of one's own abstract sense of fulfillment is at the basis of all our spiritual and worldly endeavors. As such it is futile to draw a line of separation between the so-called spiritual and worldly, because all kinds of aspirations, ambitions, desires and emotional pulls are different expressions of one's abstract sense of fulfillment. That was why Sai Baba never discouraged his devotees from asking him for the fulfillment of worldly desires and protection against mundane problems. Baba made it clear when he said, "Saints exist to give devotees spiritual and temporal welfare. I give to my devotees whatever they ask, till they ask for what I want to give them!"

Sri Babuji does not lecture, preach or even teach in formal sense. He responds to our questions in words and in silence and communicates what we need at that particular moment. In fact, he teaches us in such a natural way that we hardly realize we are being taught. "I teach nothing. I try to make you learn," he says, when asked about his approach. He artfully places us in situations necessary for the integrated unfolding of emotions; this is needed to generate a backdrop for a fulfilled and complete experience of life. It is the fire, which he kindles, and fans in our hearts that leads to the destruction of the knots that bind our existence and limit our ability to love.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Sri.Annasuyamata of Paradsinga


All the mystics of the world and all saints have declared that the immediate presence of a realized sage is one of the most potent forces in the spiritual advancement of a seeker (sadhak). Contact with them induces in us inner calm and purity, restores our sense of values, wipes out illusory allurements of the senses and turns us spiritwards with renewed vigour. Besides, when approached in the proper manner, they can enable us to realize that all saints are one in essence. That is why it is necessary for a true seeker after realization to contact several realized souls; ‘The Gurugita’ thus says, “Just as the honey-fascinated bee goes from flower to flower, so should the wisdom-fascinated person go from guru to guru”.



This is the spirit of Baba’s leela of demonstrating that he is one with all saints. That Baba approves of such an attitude is shown by the fact that whenever his devotee ardently prays for true enlightenement alone and has transcended the erroneous view that seeking the blessings of other saints is contrary to reposing faith in him, he brings him in contact with several great saints and shows that he is one with them.

Sri.Annasuyamata of Paradsinga LEELA's


R. Sarath Babu (24), P.Vijayakumar (25) and T.D.K. Murthy (27) were old students of our college and they had been regularly attending Thursday bhajans and daily satsang at my house. The three wanted to witness the Kumbha Mela in 1976 in Allahabad. On the way they wished to take darshan of the Samadhi of Hazrat Tajuddin Baba of Nagpur and see Videha Sri.Annasuyamata of Paradsinga (20 miles from Nagpur).

All the members of our group look upon all saints as forms of Baba and, before visiting any of them, pray to him to grace them with the special attention and blessings of the saint so that our faith that he is one with them might be strengthened. Accordingly, the three worshipped Baba and started for Nagpur. I wished them godspeed and assured them that Baba would go ahead of them and make all the arrangements necessary. Indeed, their experiences on the trip did bear out the truth more strikingly than we could imagine.

They first went to Dr.Anil of Nagpur, a devotee of Sai Baba who had sent them with a letter of introduction to Sri V.D. Dholey, President of the Samsthan at Paradsinga. What happened subsequently was communicated to me in a letter dt. 31-1-1977 by Dr. Anil. I quote the relevant sentences from it:

“They reached there safely and enjoyed the meals offered by Sri. V. D. Dholey. Thereafter Sri. Dholey took them along for having the holy darshan of Sati Mata (i.e. Anasuyadevi); they stayed there for about 24 hours. Shri Mata allowed them to sleep in her room in the night. On 29-1-1977 the below mentioned message had been conveyed to me from Samsthan of Paradsinga (in Marathi language) and I have been asked to convey the same to you in English.

1) Just at the very moment when they got down at Paradsinga bus stand, the elder sister of Shri Dholey saw, a circle of wide circumference, highly shining and celestial, dazzling light in the form of a globe, momentarily and that was witnessed by a few other family members too.

2) And within fifteen minutes after its disappearance these three of your disciples entered the residence of Mr. Dholey. All members of that family were aware beforehand that ‘something new’ was going to happen during the forthcoming moments. Because hitherto none of them had ever witnessed the above sort of scene or occurrence.

3) When these three were taken to the temple of Mata she was sitting on the decorated bed encircled by a group of devotees. No sooner than these three entered Shri Sati Mata murmured rather in a whimsical way, “Karate mi Ram Ram” by way of greeting.

4) Then she suddenly asked then ‘Kon desh Kay Nao?’ i.e. “Where from have you come?”

5) As these three were unable to understand Marathi language, she by herself answered, ‘Dakshinatele Lok Dev Pahayala Alet’ i.e. ‘You have been supported by Godly power; hence God has called upon and bestowed upon you this opportunity to visit (me)… These three requested her to help them in completion of their sadhana. She replied, “Bhajan Kari, Bhajan kari, Chandra Kahi Halena, Kahi Dolena” i.e., ‘You are singing bhajans; yet you are not successful i.e. your cry to reach the destination could not shake His heart’… They asked her through Shri Dholey what should be done in order to reach the destination. Shri Mata replied, ‘Hat Dharun Chalav’ i.e., ‘Walk hand in hand or strictly follow the words of guru. Then these Trimurthi ventured to ask the originality of Mata (i.e. who she is). Shri Mata replied, ‘Anasuya… Anasuya he sarva Jagat Prasiddha Ahe’; ‘Ti Anasuya Satya yugtil Anasuya Ahe’ i.e. Anasuya… Anasuya is famous all over the world. The same Anasuya of Satyayug is here’. Then she murmured that these three name their guru as ‘Master… Master… Master is God’ and with these words, with the help of her fingers she applied the saliva of her tongue on her forehead, (i.e. between her eyebrows)… Lastly these three disciples of yours had placed the photograph of Shri Sai Baba and you before her on the bed. She lifted up the same with her hands and touched mainly your photograph twice or thrice with her tongue. The same photograph was kept by her covered under the sari for the whole of the night. When she touched your photograph with tongue she pronounced ‘Rishi, Rishi……Two Rishis. One on horse’ (perhaps this refers to Shirdi Sai Baba and his horse Shyam Karna)….. She looked at both the photographs for a good length of time.





Saturday, January 26, 2008

Shri VasudevanandSaraswati (Tembe) Swami Maharaja



He was born in the village of Managaon near Savantwadi, then a princely state in southern Maharashtra, in a traditional, religious Brahmin family, devoted to Lord Dattatreya. His grandfather Haribhataji used to recite Shri Gurucharitra regularly. He also used to make manuscripts of the holy book to supplement his meager income. His father Shri Ganesh Bhataji Tembe was a devotee of Dattatreya, spending long periods, sometimes years together, in the remote Ganagapur temple of the Lord in Karnataka. His mother Ramabai also used to spend her time in religious pursuits like jap (recitation of mantras), pradakshina, path(reading holy books), atithisatkar (hospitality) etc. After a particularly long stay in Ganagapur, Lord Dattatreya appeared in a dream and instructed Shri Ganesh Bhataji to return to Managaon and attend to the duties of a householder (grihastha), promising to incarnate as their son. It was after his return from Ganagapur that his eldest son Vasudeo was born on the 5th day of the dark fortnight of the month of Shravana of A.D.1854. Tembe family was endowed with spiritual riches (
daivi sampat) but had little temporal wealth. Their priestly duties were not adequate for the livelihood and Vasudeo’s grandfather took to agriculture as a side business.

EDUCATION
He woke up daily before sunrise and took his bath and insulated himself from all impurities and contamination during the religious practices. He only took fresh pure ( and vegetarian food prepared by himself or by his mother and never ate outside his home. The food thus prepared, he used to offer to sacrificial fire (Vaishvadev), the cow (Gogra), to the crow (Kaakbali) and finally to the Lord Datta, before partaking it in the manner ordained by scriptures. During the meal any impurity in the environment led him to leave his food and fast for the day. He used to observe the fasts on the 11th days (Ekadashi) of each fortnight, without even drinking water and abjuring sleep during day or night.

Vasudeo, with his sincerity, sharp intellect and phenomenal memory, soon completed his study of the Vedas and became proficient in the priestly duties. As a result he became a respected and beloved figure in the Managaon and neighboring villages and started contributing to the family livelihood.


Mantrasiddhi

Vasudeo’s austerities, dedicated practices and devotion soon led to his acquiring Mantrasiddhi i.e., supernatural powers manifested through Vedic mantras.

Once at his sister’s place, Vasudeo displayed his mantric prowess by turning her intractable cow docile. He also helped local police by providing an accurate description and modus operandi of a particularly evasive gang of robbers. Another time, he correctly predicted the capture of the accused by the police of another state. He also helped people in distress by relieving them of their chronic ailments. This augmented his reputation in Managaon and the surrounding area. He was now respectfully addressed as Shri Vasudeo Shastriji.

However, it must be emphasized here that Shri Vasudeo Shastriji never employed his powers for either monetary gain or to impress others in any way. He only used his powers to help the needy and to relieve suffering. We shall see that this compassion for his fellow beings continued to be a major motivation in his entire life.


WIFE'S DEATH

At Gangakhed, his wife died of cholera on the 14th dark day of Vaishakh, 1891 AD. Buwa looked after her in her last illness and performed the last rites. Thus he was now completely free of all family bonds. Even as he was looking forward to be initiated to the monastic life, he had a premonition of his own death by cholera. He was so frustrated and angered that he started abusing the Lord. He blamed the Lord for not permitting him to take sanyas and now confronting him with an unclean death. By the Lord’s Grace, the death was averted and on 14th day after his wife’s death Buwa took the vows of asceticism.

The Message

Meticulous observance of religious conducts viz.

  1. Snaan (bath),

  2. Sandhya (prayer),

  3. Dev Puja (worship),

  4. five major Yadnyas (sacrifices),

  5. Atithti Satkar (honor to the guest),

  6. service to Gomata,

  7. Sincere attendance of Katha, Keertan, Bhajans, Puran etc.,

  8. Soft and kind speech,

  9. Refraining from harming anyone in any way,

  10. Service and obedience to parents (for men)

  11. and to husband, in-laws (for women) and other elders.

One may pursue any means for livelihood viz. commerce, agriculture or service. However, one should never abandon the conduct ordained by Vedas and obedience to the Guru. Observance of one’s religious duties only purifies mind. Only purified mind gets established in Upasana (progress towards God), which in turn is the only source of Peace of mind. Only a peaceful mind is capable of self-knowledge which is the sole means of Liberation.” Shri Maharaj further exemplified the seven grounds (levels) of Knowledge and concluded that, “ This is a brief summary. One who follows this advice will finally attain complete
happiness.

The Eternal Physician

When the devotees started pressing Shri Maharaj to take some medicines, he replied, “ I am soon quitting this body; as such no medicines are necessary. Shankaracharya lived only 32 years. This frame has endured much longer. This was afflicted twice by snakebite, thrice by cholera, once by Sannipat, once by plague, twice by leprosy and twice by leukoderma. Dysentery is almost constant. Who gave medicine then? The physician engaged (Shri Datta Prabhu) at birth is still there!”

  • The Exit
    Shri Maharaj was originally scheduled to depart on the dark 8th of Jyeshtha month; however he did not prefer to go that day. Hence, noting the exact timing of the Tithi, Shri Maharaj made someone sit him up and went into Samadhi for three hours. On waking up from Samadhi he said, “today’s scheduled departure has been avoided.” By the dark moon (Amavasya) of Jyeshtha, he was very weak in acute pain. He called Shri Appa Shastri Jere from Wadi and whispered in his ears, “I have been a subject of black magic in my householder days; however I have no desire to retaliate.” Even on that last day he tried perform Nityakarma; but he could not even hold water in his hand and gave the effort saying, “God’s will”. “Once today’s Amavasya is past, this body has to be quit” he said. Accordingly, as soon as the Amavasya gave way to bright Pratipada of Ashadh, Shri Maharaj sat up facing the Lord to the west, performed Tratak (steady gaze), controlled breath and quit the body with a loud chant of “Om”. The day was Tuesday, Nakshatra Ardra, Ayan Uttara.

MEETING WITH SHIRDI SAIBABA..


Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi A major disciple of Shri Sai Baba and a saint-poet in his own right, Shri Dasaganu Maharaj, met Shri Swami Maharaj during his stay at Rajamahendri in Andhra Pradesh. After offering a Kirtan service in the presence of Shri Swami Maharaj, the latter enquired Dasaganu Maharaj about his plans. Dasaganuji told Maharaj, he was on his way to Shirdi to see his Master Shri Sai Baba. Shri Swami Maharaj gave a coconut to Dasaganu saying, “Please give to my brother”. Dasaganu accepted the coconut and left for Shirdi, with his party. On the way, one morning, the party halted at Kopargaon station, where Gasaganu Maharaj went away to perform the daily religious services. His companions, feeling hungry, proceeded to eat some snacks they had packed. It turned out the snacks were rather too spicy and hot. Everyone was thirsting for water, which, on that hot summer day was not readily available. Some resourceful members decided to break the coconuts in the baggage to satiate their thirst. Among these coconuts, the one from Shri Swami maharaj was also broken and consumed. The snacks and the coconut were offered to Shri Dasaganuji too on his return. When they reached Shirdi, Dasaganu was dismayed by the cold reception he got from Shri Sai Baba, who turned his back on the party and shouted abuses at them, “thieves and scoundrels!” This was markedly in contrast to the loving reception Dasaganu almost always got from Baba. He was stricken with remorse and threw himself at the feet of Baba begging forgiveness. Baba shouted at him, “Where is the coconut my brother gave me? Get me my coconut first!” Dasaganu, unaware of its disposal, asked his companions for it. It was only when they confessed to having eaten it that he came to know of the sacrilege. Having impressed upon Dasaganu and others of the esteem he had for his “brother’s” coconut, Sai Baba gave up his feigned anger and rebuked them for the sacrilege.

Thus, though the two saints never met each other in person, they have, through this episode, made evident, their innate spiritual unity. Outwardly Swami Maharaj was a highly orthodox Brahmanical monk and Shri Sai Baba was a most unorthodox mendicant refusing to conform to any religious tradition. But for this incidence, most observers would feel that they represented to two opposing doctrines. However a close examination of their life and teachings would reveal that their differences were more in form than in essence. Both these saints were motivated by an intense desire to mitigate the sufferings of all persons coming into their contact, irrespective of his caste, creed or persuasion.