Shree Swami Samarth of Akkalkot

Shree Swami Samarth of Akkalkot

Believed to be an incarnation of Shri Dattatreya the name of this spiritual master, popularly called Swami Samarth, is a household word in Maharashtra and the region around. As this Perfect Master chose to reside at a place called Akkalkot for 22 years where he took Mahasamadhi (left his mortal body) in 1878, he is also known as the Maharaj of Akkalkot, Akkalkot is situated in district Solapur of Maharashtra state of India.

For the devotees of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba, it would be inspiring to learn about the life and deeds of 'Swami Samarth'. A comparative picturisation of the lives of these two great Saints, i.e. Swami Samarth and Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi would establish a surprising amount of commonness in their lives and deeds which includes their methods of teaching, the universality of their approach and the miracles they performed. Even a critical approach by a non-conformist would ultimately lead to the assertion that the over-all role of these two spiritual masters during the second half of the nineteenth century was similar, if not same. One, who is capable of making finer spiritual analysis, would be faced with a bewildering reality. The reality is that Swami Samarth and Shri Shirdi Sai Baba were the manifestations of the same Divine Spirit in two gross bodies

Many published writings on both these Saints by different writers authenticate about the interaction between these two Sadgurus both in the gross, and the subtle planes. Just before Mahasamadhi, Swami Samrath advised one of his disciples to worship Shri Sai at Shirdi saying that he (the Swami Samarth) would stay at Shirdi in future.

The early life of Swami Samarth like that of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba is shrouded with mystery. For that matter, even Shri Shirdi Sai Baba's advent and early life has not been established. Yet it does not really matter for those who have faith in Him and continue to experience his benevolence in different ways. How does it matter if Christ was born of a virgin mother! He took the pain of the suffering humanity and led them in the path of spirituality. That is what the world needs.

Shri Narasimha Saraswati, about three centuries before the advent of Swami Samarth is believed to be the earlier incarnation of Shri Dattatreya. The 'Guru Charitra' one of the most famous books gives lot of information about Him. As per the most popular belief, Shri Narasimha Swami, after helping and spiritually uplifting a large number of people over a few decades, went away to the Himalayas for penance and went into Samadhi. In the Samadhi state He remained for about three hundred years. With the passage of time a huge anthill grew over him and he was lost to the outside world. One day accidentally a woodcutter’s axe fell on the bushes grown around the ant hill. He was shocked to find blood stains on the blade of the axe. He cleared the anthill and Lo, he found a Yogi in meditation. The Yogi slowly opened his eyes and consoled the dumbfounded woodcutter saying that it was the Divine Will for Him to re-appear in the world to resume His mission. This Yogi, in his new role came to be known as Swami Samarth.

Prior to his settlement at Akkalkot, Swami Samarth visited far and wide. While moving in the Himalayan region he visited China. Thereafter, he visited places like Puri, Benaras, Hardwar, Girnar, Kathiawad and Rameswaram in the South. He also stayed at Mangalvedha, a town near Pandharpur in Solapur district Maharashtra, which had been inhabited earlier by famous saints like Domojipant and Chokhamela. He came to Akkalkot in 1856 where he continued his physical existence for 22 years.He came to Akkalkot on the invitation of one Chintopant Tol and stayed at a place on the outskirts of the town.

He treated Muslims, Christians and Parsees all alike. His Kindness was always bestowed on the poor, needy and the people at the lowest rung of the society. Both Hindus and Muslim festivals like Dusshehra and Moharram etc. used to be celebrated by Him. As in Shirdi, Thursday became a special day of celebration at Akkalkot. Like Shirdi Sai Baba, Swami Samarth of Akkalkot was fond of mass feeding.

After serving the poor, curing the sick and helping the spiritual seekers over a few decades, Swami Samarth one day suddenly announced that the time had come for him to go out of his physical existence. By Hindu calendar It was Chaitra Sudha trayodasi, Shaka 1800 i.e. the year 1878 AD Tuesday at 4 PM. At this time he seated himself in Padmasana (Lotus Posture) and uttered his last words - "no one should weep I shall always be present at all places and I shall respond to every call of the devotees"". Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi had also said exactly the same thing before his Mahasamadhi.

Just before he had left his gross body, one devotee named Keshav Nayak who was emotionally charged, asked "Maharaj, since you are going, who will give us protection?". Swami Samarth gave him a pair of his sandals to worship. He told him "in future I will be staying at Shirdi in district Ahmednagar". Another devotee, Krishna Ali Bagkar decided to go to Akkalkot and worship the padukas of Swami Samarth. Thereafter he got a dream appearance of Swami Samarth who told him "now I am staying at Shirdi, go there and worship me". Bagkar went to Shirdi where he stayed for six months. Later, when he wanted to take leave of Shri Sai and go to Akkalkot again Shri Sai told him "what is there in Akkalkot, Maharaj of Akkalkot is staying here". Bagkar realised that there is no difference between Swami Samarth and Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi as he recalled his earlier dream.

SRI VENKAIAH SWAMY

Bhagavaan Sri Venkaiah Swamy of Golagamudi Is one such foremost saint and Sadguru of modern India, who lived up to 24th August 1982. Devotees' experiences confirm the truth that he is Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent.

Even though we have not seen Sri Ramana Maharshi and Sai Baba of Shirdi, we are fortunate enough to see Swamyji who lived up to 1982. Very tactfully he concealed his spiritual powers till the day of his Maha samadhi. He shunned the unnecessary publicity. Only after his Maha samadhi, devotees ventured to reveal their experience with one another and enjoy the thrill of it.

Devotee Experience.

I n 1975 fortunately by the grace of God I had contacted Parama Pujya Sri Acharya Bharadwaja Masterji. I used to take his darshan regularly once in a week spending twenty rupees for each trip. In spite of his persuasion for one year, I did not approach Swamiji who was available in our village, Kalichedu, thinking that he was not worth visiting. After one year Sri Bharadwaja Master forced me to test the spiritual power of Swamiji, the God on earth and be devoted to him. He also gave me certain hints for finding out the spiritual powers of Swamiji. Sri Swamy never allowed any body to touch him except the three specific servants among the twelve servants who usually serve him. He would not receive with his own hands any thing from any one.

If the servants placed tobacco on the mat he would take it. So when I went to the Swamy, I prayed to Sai baba ”You have demonstrated that you are in all saints. If Sri Venkaiah Swamy is a perfect saint like you, with in ten minutes, he should ask me to massage oil to his feet and take this little jaggary and pulses (fried Bengalgram) and eat without my asking. Two of his servants wouldalways attend on Swamy lest the visitors would touch Swamis feet. Within a few seconds both the servants went out to attend the nature call, leaving the Swamy alone. Merciful Swamy at once stretched his hand asking me ”Ayyaa! Will you give me something to eat?” My joy knew no bounds. I made a powder of the pulses and jaggary and Swamy took it from my hands and ate it. He also asked me to massage his legs with oil. I massaged not only the feet but also all his body and gave him an oil bath also.

From that day on wards I used to visit Swamiji frequently and spend all my leisure time in his august presence. In his blessed presence he used to answer my every unuttered thought and helped my budding faith in him to blossom rapidly. Whenever I requested Swamy to grace my house, Swamiji used to say, ”Not now, we shall see later”. In 1977 I have completed the thirteenth parayana of Sri Saileelamrutam on the holy Gurupurnima day. On that day, we were conducting Sri Sai Japa Yagna for twelve hours. We prayed Sainath to grace the function in the form of Sri Venkaiah Swamy. Quite surprisingly he complied with our prayers and came to my house on the Gurupurnima day. He graced my house with his sacred fire and also the house of Sri T.V. Seshagiri Rao where the Japa Yagna was being conducted. Thus Swamiji demonstrated that he was none other than Sri Sainath of Shirdi.

SAYINGS OF SRI SWAMY
1. Feed the hungry (but) not the belching.
2. Whatever you desire will be fulfilled if you come here with full faith.
3. You take it for granted that Venkaiah is in all creatures.
4. Even if you leave me I will not leave you.
5. What is it that you gain from having a Darshan of the Maharaja of Mysore? You reap what you sow.
6. I will be responding as per one’s faith.
7. I will pick up my lamb even though it is in a herd of thousand.
8. Equal love for all will enable you to realize God.
9. I am responsible for the welfare of all the people who give and bring a morsel of food in my name.
10. When a devotee asked for a mantra, Swamy said, ”There is no mantra or tantra. Go ahead with Vichara” (discrimination).
11. It is nothing great if a monk sticks on to dharma. It is great if a householder sticks on to dharma.
12. We must stick on to dharma even while lending money for interest.

FIND MORE ON HIS BOOK AVADHUTA LEELA Author: P.Subbaramaiah

Paramahansa Yogananda

Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1952)

Paramahansa Yogananda is recognized as one of the greatest emissaries to the West of India's ancient wisdom. His life and teachings continue to be a source of light and inspiration to people of all races, cultures and creeds.

Birth & Childhood: He was born Mukunda Lal Ghosh on January 5, 1893, in Gorakhpur, India, into a devout and well-to-do Bengali family. From his earliest years, he developed a depth of awareness and experience in the spiritual. In his youth he sought out many of India's sages and saints, hoping to find an illumined teacher to guide him in his spiritual quest.

Spritual Search : It was in 1910, at the age of 17, that he met and became a disciple of the revered Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri. In the hermitage of this great master of Yoga he spent the better part of the next ten years, receiving Sri Yukteswar's strict but loving spiritual discipline. After he graduated from Calcutta University in 1915, he took formal vows as a monk of India's venerable monastic Swami Order, at which time he received the name Yogananda (signifying bliss, ananda, through divine union, yoga).

Beginning of World Mission: Yogananda began his life's work with the founding, in 1917, of a "how-to-live" school for boys, where modern educational methods were combined with yoga and spirituality. In 1920, he was invited to serve as India's delegate to an international congress of religious leaders convening in Boston where he presented his discourse "The Science of Religion." For the next several years, he lectured and taught on the East coast and in 1924 embarked on a cross-continental speaking tour.

Pioneer of Yoga: Over the next decade, Yogananda traveled and lectured widely, speaking to capacity audiences in many of the largest auditoriums in the US - from New York's Carnegie Hall to the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He emphasized the underlying unity of the religions, and taught universally applicable methods for attaining personal experience of God. To serious students of his teachings he introduced the soul-awakening techniques of Kriya Yoga, a sacred spiritual science originating millenniums ago in India.

Among those who became his students were many prominent figures in science, business, and the arts, including horticulturist Luther Burbank, operatic soprano Amelita Galli-Curci, George Eastman (inventor of the Kodak camera), poet Edwin Markham, and symphony conductor Leopold Stokowski. In 1927, he was officially received at the White House by President Calvin Coolidge, who had become interested in the newspaper reports of his activities.

Return to India: In 1935, Yogananda began an 18-month tour of Europe and India. During his yearlong sojourn in his native land, he spoke in cities throughout the subcontinent and enjoyed meetings with Gandhi, C. V. Raman, Ramana Maharshi and Anandamoyi Ma, among others. In this year his guru, Swami Sri Yukteswar, bestowed on him the title of “paramahansa” (supreme swan - a symbol of spiritual discrimination), that signifies one who manifests the supreme state of unbroken communion with God.

Books and Literature: During the 1930s, Yogananda began to withdraw somewhat from his nationwide public lecturing so as to devote himself to the writings that would carry his message to future generations. Yogananda's life story, "Autobiography of a Yogi", was published in 1946 and expanded by him in subsequent editions. A perennial best seller, the book has been in continuous publication since it first appeared and has been translated into 18 languages. It is widely regarded as a modern spiritual classic.

Final Years: On March 7, 1952, Yogananda entered mahasamadhi, a God-illumined master's conscious exit from the body at the time of physical death. His passing was marked by an extraordinary phenomenon. A notarized statement signed by the Director of Forest Lawn Memorial-Park testified: "No physical disintegration was visible in his body even 20 days after death.... This state of perfect preservation of a body is… an unparalleled one.... Yogananda's body was apparently in a phenomenal state of immutability."

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Paramahansa Yogananda's passing, India issued a special commemorative stamp was issued in his honor, together with a tribute that read, in part: "The ideal of love for God and service to humanity found full expression in the life of Paramahansa Yogananda....Though the major part of his life was spent outside India, still he takes his place among our great saints."

Based on Yogananda’s biography at yogananda.com

Sri Ramana Maharishi

Sri Ramana Maharishi (1879 - 1950)

Birth & Early Life: Ramana Maharshi was born on December 30, 1879 in Madurai, India. Originally called Venkataraman, his was a pious middle class Brahmin family. However, he went to a missionary school and learnt English.

Flight From Home: In 1896, Venkataraman, left his home in search of his Father, Lord Arunachala. From that day till the end of his earthly sojourn, Venkataraman made Arunachala (Tiruvannamalai) his home.

The Great Enlightenment: "It was about six weeks before I left Madurai for good, in the middle of the year 1896, that the great change in my life took place" said Sri Ramana Maharshi, when asked by devotees as to how he was transformed, “…All this was not a feat of intellectual gymnastics, but came as a flash before me vividly as living Truth, which I perceived immediately, without any argument almost".

Meditation & Penance: Ramana practised Tapas or deep meditation in shrines, cave and hills in and around Tiruvannamalai, where he was known as Brahmana Swami. From 1909 to 1916 he lived in the Virupakshi Cave. During his days of Tapas, mischievous boys pelted him with stones, but Ramana was ever peaceful and calm through the strength of meditation and penance. His life was one continued meditation, ‘Ananda Anubhavam’. He established peace within, and encouraged others to do the same.

His Teachings: Maharshi seldom talked. Kavya Kanta Ganapathy Sastri, the great Sanskrit scholar, came to Ramana’s Ashram in 1908 and stayed with Maharshi and wrote the 'Ramana Gita'. Ramana was a living example of the teaching of the Upanishads. His life was at once the message and the philosophy of his teachings. He spoke to the hearts of people.

His Message: He gave to the world the grand but simple message of his great life, "Know Thyself". "Enquire, ‘Who am I?’ Make the mind calm. Free yourself from all thoughts other than the simple thought of the Self or Atma. Dive deep into the chambers of your heart. Find out the real, infinite ‘I’. Rest there peacefully for ever and become identical with the Supreme Self."
Happiness Unlimited: Sri Ramana said, "The world is so unhappy because it is ignorant of the true Self. Man’s real nature is happiness. Happiness is inborn in the true Self. Man’s search for happiness is an unconscious search for his true Self. The true Self is imperishable; therefore, when a man finds it, he finds a happiness, which does not come to an end.

Last Days: The Maharshi was operated four times after he was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his upper left arm above the elbow. A meteor hit the sky at 8-47 p.m. on the 14th of April 1950, when Sri Ramana Maharshi left his mortal coil and entered Mahasamadhi. In the heart of humanity the saint shall live forever, guiding, encouraging, goading and inspiring, so that millions and millions might seek and find the Great Truth that Ramana realised.
Sri Ramana expounded the Vedanta philosophy not through bookish knowledge but through practical experience. His teachings imparted through all-absorbing ‘Silence’ embodied the highest ideals and the ultimate reaches in divine realization.

Based on Maharishi's biography written by Swami Sivananda

Avatar Meher Baba

Avatar Meher Baba

Birth : February 25, 1894 (Pune, India) Death : January 31, 1969 (aged 74) (Meherazad, India)

Merwan Sheriar Irani was born February 25, 1894, in Poona, India, into a Zoroastrian family. His father, a genuine seeker for God, was informed by the Spiritual Hierarchy that God Realization would come to him through his son. He came out of his desert retreat, married and established a family. Merwan, his second son, was an exceptionally fair and loving boy in all respects, and everyone recognized his high destiny. He attended the Christian High School and Deccan College.

Meher Baba, as he came to be called by his disciples, took up his avataric duties early in 1922 after seven years of intense work with the five Perfect Masters of the time. Hazrat Babajan, the aged woman master of Poona, initiated his spiritual awakening in January, 1914, by kissing him on the forehead. Almost immediately he entered into a transcendental state of mind out of touch with normal gross consciousness. He scarcely ate or slept for nine months.

Dazed and apparently insane, he made his way during the next year to Shirdi Sai Baba, the chief of the five Perfect Masters, who acknowledged him publically as the Sustainer of the Universe, and sent him to Upasni Maharaj. As soon as that master saw the young man approaching, he picked up a stone and threw it with great force. It struck him on the forehead exactly where the old woman had kissed him. Thus began a painful five-year process of regaining normal consciousness while retaining his divine state.

During the 1920's he gathered and rigorously trained his inner circles of disciples while founding an active spiritual community in Ahmednagar, India, with schools, hospitals and other public service projects. In the middle of the decade he became silent and never again uttered a word. For 44 years he communicated by spelling words on an alphabet board and through hand gestures, including two important books, God Speaks and Discourses.

In 1931 he came to the West for the first time, traveling on the same ship that took Mahatma Gandhi to the Round Table Conference in London. During that voyage, he became Gandhi's spiritual adviser. In England and America he gathered a select group of western disciples, some of whom joined him in India later on. He visited his disciples in the West a half dozen times before the Second World War.

During the 1940's he traveled all over India in his work with the poor, with lepers, with the insane and with masts, a category of mentally disturbed people seldom found in the West whose afflictions come from unwise use of powerful spiritual practices, overwhelming and unbalanced love for God, or enthrallment by a sudden vision of Divinity. He set up temporary mad and mast ashrams in every part of the country where he contacted and served them in his own silent way.
He established two places of pilgrimage outside of India during the 1950's, Meher Spiritual Center, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, U.S.A., and Avatar's Abode, near Brisbane, Australia. It was necessary to spill his blood in America, he said, and while there to dedicate his center, major bones were broken and his face severely smashed in an car accident. A few years later he suffered a similar fate in India.

He became well known in the West during the 1960's by opposing the use of LSD and other drugs in the quest for spiritual experiences. In the last years he largely withdrew from public life and intensified his work in seclusion, announcing in the fall of 1968 that his work was completed 100% to his satisfaction. On January 31, 1969, one month before his 76th birthday, he left his body, which now lies in the tomb near Ahmednagar, a place of pilgrimage for those who love him.
He said that his tomb, called his samadhi, takes the place of his physical body. For a period of 100 years, entering his samadhi is equal to coming into his physical presence. Many pilgrims take advantage of this opportunity to keep his company. After 70 years, he said, his samadhi will be the most frequented place of pilgrimage in the world.

Shri Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon

Gajanan - The Phenomenon! (Birth : 23rd Feb. 1878- Death : September 8, 1910)
A Banyan tree in old Shegaon. Two youngsters noticed a peculiar personality strongly built. Fair in complexion. Young in age. Peculiar calmness and satisfaction on face. Searching rice particles on the patrawalies. And chanting Gan Gan Ganat Bote. No effect on face of scorching heat of summer noon time. That was the first appearance of Gajanan Maharaj in tiny Shegaon Town. The personality was so impressive that the tow youngsters, Bankatlal and Damodar were attracted to the charm, And then began the legendary life; his legendary charisma!

It is said that he was the Awatara of Samarth Ramdasa of Sajjangarh. Devotees used to offer him rich food, clothes, ornaments etc. But he used throw away all there. He used to lie anywhere, eat anything, wear any piece of cloth or nothing at all.He used to keep away from the worldly things. But though he tried to the people that he is in same, he has no literary knowledge, and so on. it is amply proved that - he was Bedshastree Sampnna, he was perfect in Yogashastra and that he had done Tapascharya, and he even knew the language (or psychology) of animals and birds. That's why Mahan Yogies, learned people and famous personalities used to come to see him. It is not denying the fact that he was with Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak at Shivjayanti meeting at Akola, and that also on dias, alongwith Annasaheb Patwardhan, Dadasaheb Khaparde, Damble, Kolhatkar, Bhave, Desai etc.
He with Lokmanya Tilak and Dadasaheb Khaprde of Amravati went to have the Darshana of Prabhu Ramchandra at famous Ram Mandir of Akola. Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati also visited Shegaon to meet Gajanan Maharaj. So many people of education and status used to visit Shegaon. Gajanan Mahraj was Siddhayogi He has done so many unusual things which were called chamatkaras. He has famed odd behaving animals. He had ordered birds like crows to behave properly. He had brought water to waterless well; cured the sick, helped the helpless, showed right path to those who wanted and what not? He had gives people advice to his devotees. He could read the mind of his Bhakta. Those who came to see him with some purpose in mind, always went home satisfied. It is sad (and said rightly) that there was always peace and satisfaction around his stature. His eyes could give proper direction to the erring. He was thoroughly a 'faith heater' a psychiatric in today's language. That's why he is worshipped in every house in Vidarbha, Maharashtra and nearly states. In Vidarbha without showing (giving) him Naivedhya nobody take one's meal. Because of the immense good done to the devotees. He had become a legendary phenomenon. There are hundreds & Thousand of Temples in all the parts of Maharashtra as well as outside Maharashtra of his name. That's why Shegaon of Shri Gajanan Maharaj is called "Bhu-Vaikenth", "The Abode of Bhagwan Shri Vishnu on earth". In short he was a Rishi guiding the disciples, he was a yogi taking care of disciples, he was a Siddha doing good of the disciples, he was Vedandti correcting the Pandits & Kirtankaras, and he was Guru-Acharya showing the real path to the disciples. And yet he tied to keep alert of all of this, all through his life. So he has become the Daivat of Vidarbha, and Shegaon has become the Pandharpur of Vidarbha.
He himself advised his disciples to make a Trust. And a Trust, "Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan" was established in 1908. After so many things for the betterment of his devotees. Gajanan Maharaj on his own decided to take the leave from this world. He took this decision in front of Shri Vitthala at Pandharpur at the time of Ashadhi Ekadashi in 1910. He told so to his Bhaktas. They became shocked, They cried wept, They opposed, tried to pursue - But He was firm; firm as a rock of course he advised all of them, pursuedd to be calm, have confidence and give him permission. He even told them the date of his Maha Nirvana and the place for his Samadhi. (Nearly One Month Before). And the day was Bhadrapada Shuddha Panchami i.e. Rishi Panchami Shake 1832 (Guruwar) i.e. 8th Sept. 1910 (Thursday). It was the darkest morning in Shegaon and its vicinity! It was allover. Thousands of Bhaktas, male-female, old and young gathered. No words to describe their grief. All men-women -children-animals-birds all were weeping-crying-in their hears. And Their Beloved? He was calm and the usual smile on his face ! All his innumerable disciples or devotees suppose that their Daivat Sadguru Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj is still alive and guides and helps them. They tell their experiences of his helps and blessings. That's why the flow of thousands of devotees to Shegaon!.

Sai Baba of Shirdi and Gajanan Maharaj- their spiritual relationship

Saibaba of Shirdi is a very much revered saint. His fame has crossed international boundaries . Anyone who would look at him would know for certain that Saibaba's attitude was that of an equanimity. Saibaba and Shri Gajanan Maharaj knew each other. It is said that Saibaba was in a mourning on the day Gajanan Maharaj had left his body. Late Shri Dadasaheb Khaparde had told that Saibaba wept profusely on the day Gajanan Maharaj breathed his last. "My life-breath is leaving me--- a great part of my soul is giving up my body." These were the words of sorrow uttered by Saibaba. It is said that the work of Gajanan Maharaj devolved on Saibaba and the latter had taken responsibility of looking after all those who were near Maharaj. Sai Baba is supposed to have shaved off his head in mourning on the day Maharaj attained Mahasamadhi on 8-9-1910.

Shri. C.B. Satpathy Ji ( Guru Ji )

Shri Satpathy ji is very religious since his childhood.His inborn divine qualities nourished and blossomed under very pious and caring eyes of his father. As if Shri Sai himself as a father took care of him. Satpathyji found a friend a guide and a divine teacher in his father.

At first it is difficult to belive that Shri Satpathy Ji has been a police officer all his life and was a recipient of of the President's gold medal for bravery. But to the hundreds who flock to his house, his official rank is immaterial. To them, he is simply the man with the healing touch, they earnestly believe that he can look into the future and solve their problems. This is what brings them every Saturday to the Chatterpur temple of Baba. Satpathyji's asset is no professional astrologer, it's his instinct in him which prompts his predictions.

The number of people, who have come in contact with 'Guru Ji' to find solutions to their Materialistic, Psychological, Commercial & Health problems or for their Spiritual upliftment runs not in Thousands but in Millions.

To some Shri Satpathyji is like a BROTHER. Some look towards him as a FATHER figure and very many see him as a Guide who helps them spiritually to understand and feel Shri Sai Baba - Thus they call him very aptly Guru ji. Guru ji treats everyone like a dear and beloved child of Shri Sai and addresses every lady very affectionately as 'Maa' (Mother).

Shri Chandra Bhanu Satpathy has many incredible predictions to his credit. He had foreseen Sanjay Gandhi's death and when his prediction came true, the intelligence agencies were after him for a long time. Having thus burnt his fingers, he no longer predicts events in the lives of political personalities. In 1990 he predicted the downfall of dictatorial regimes, whether headed by individuals or military juntas. He was the only astrologer to correctly predict the return of Mikhail Gorbachev. His other prediction about the USSR have also been proved true. But SatpathyJi is not merely an astrologer. "My aim is to help people", he says. An IPS officer, he has finished his tenure with the ministry of Civil Aviation and is now posted as Director Vigilance. His help comes in various ways. Known as Guruji, he is the last resort and very often the saviour of those who have nowhere else to turn.

To some he suggests simple remedies like charcoal into a river to propitiate the wrath of "Rahu", the usual advice of any other astrologer, but for some he cures chronic asthma, hypertension and insomnia. This is precisely what makes Satpathyji so special ; he has psychic reach that goes beyond mere astrology.

Shri Satpathyji not only helps the needy one's with Shri Sai's blessed powers but also by living as a family man, sets an example in front of Sai devotees and other people at large that ONE CAN LIVE IN THIS MATERIALISTIC WORLD OF MONEY, RELATIONS & LINKED DUTIES AND STILL BE PIOUS AND BE A DETACHED 'SAINT' AT HEART. No wonder, Guru ji always guides Sai devotees to look towards Shri Sai Baba as their 'FATHER, BROTHER AND LOVED ONE'. Then only we would be able to REALISE SAI AND UNDERSTAND SAI AS GOD, with great ease. Guru ji teaches a lot by a mere look than verbal doctrines. His eyes'Emit'power of LOVE AND AFFECTION that's why, we say he is blessed by Shri Sai. Shri Sai also used to cure many people just by his glance.

Today with Guru ji's blessings, Shri Sai movement is spreading at a great pace throughout the country and even abroad. Because RELIGION OF LOVE is Shri Sai and it 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.

Guruji's message

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 preachings.


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 state in Them, had to be helped by Sandeepani and Vasishta, the Sadgurus of the time.


4. To focus the entire spiritual conciousiiess on the Sadgurus, both in Sakara (formed) or Nirakar (formless) and worship them.


5. To believe that the Guru is the repositor 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

Experience has shown that people devoted to Sadgurus, evolve faster in the spiritual field than those following other methods because such devotees believe in surrender to divinity which is the ultimate requirement for spiritual evolution. Every devotee of Shirdi Sai, therefore, on this New Year, should decide whether he wants to hold Baba as his 'Ishta' - the only one to be prayed, worshipped and called in time of need. Personally, for me Shri Sai is the only and ultimate. I don't seek anything from elsewhere.