shirdi sai baba

shirdi sai baba

Sri Sai Baba, a personification of spiritual perfection and an epitome of compassion , lived in the little village of Shirdi in the state of Maharashtra (India) for sixty years. Like most of the perfect saints he left no authentic record of his birth and early life before arriving at Shirdi. In fact, in the face of his spiritual brilliance such queries do not have much relevance.

He reached Shirdi as a nameless entity. One of the persons who first came in contact with him at Shirdi addressed him spontaneously as ‘Sai’ which means Savior, Master or Saint. ‘Baba’ means father as an expression of reverence. In the Divine play it was designed as such, that He subtly inspired this person to call Him by this name, which was most appropriate for His self-allotted mission.

All that we definitely know of Sai Baba is that his arrival at Shirdi was anonymous. He was first noticed in the outskirts of the village Shirdi, seated under a ‘neem’ (margosa) tree, about the year 1854. However, even this date is not definitely noted. Sai Baba of these younger days remained a stranger staying under the neem tree for some time and then suddenly he left Shirdi to come back again sometime in 1858, and stayed on there till he left his gross body in the year 1918.

The second advent of Baba at Shirdi, around 1858 was interestingly quite different from the first. This time he accompanied a wedding procession as guest of honor. On the arrival at Shirdi, he was immediately recognized by someone as the same anonymous saintly personality who used to be seated under the neem tree a few years earlier and, greeted Him as “Ya Sai” – Welcome Sai.

In the early days of his stay at Shirdi he spent his time either wandering in the outskirts of village and neighboring thorny jungles or sitting under the neem tree totally self absorbed. The first set of villagers who regarded this saintly figure were Mhalsapati, Tatya Kote, Bayyaji Bai and few others. Bayyaji Bai felt deeply motivated by this Divine Saint, and with her motherly instinct she used to walk miles on end into the jungles in search of him, carrying food in a basket on her head. Often she found Sai Baba sitting under some tree in deep meditation, calm and motionless. She would boldly approach him, serve the meal and return home.

After sometime as though out of compassion for her, Sai Baba ceased wandering and moved into a dilapidated mosque in the outskirts of the village. He referred to this mosque, where He resided till the end, as ‘Dwarkamai’ (Dwarka was the place where Lord Shri Krishna stayed to fulfill His divine Advent). This mosque ‘Dwarkamai’ – abode of Sai Baba became Mother of Mercy for all the time to come.

He had a body of athlete built and in his earlier days he was fond of wrestling. Another aspect of Sai Baba’s personality was his love for song and dance. In those early years of his life he used to go to ‘Takia’ , the public night shelter for moslem visitors to the village. There in the company of sojourning devotees and fakirs, he used to dance and sing in divine bliss, with small tinkles tied around his ankles. The songs he sang were mostly in Persian or Arabic. Sometimes he sang some popular songs of Kabir.

He donned a long shirt – ‘Kafni’ and tied a cloth around his head, and twisted it into a flowing plait like manner behind his left ear. He used a piece of sackcloth for his seat and slept on it with a brick as his pillow. He always declared that Fakiri (Holy poverty) was far superior to worldly richness. He was no ordinary fakir but an ‘Avatar ’ (incarnation) of a very high order. But His external appearance was of simple, illiterate, moody, emphatic – at times fiery and abusive and at times full of compassion and love. In the moments of towering rage people with him thought it was ungovernable rage. But his anger never prevented his compassion dealing with the devotees. His anger was evidently directed at unseen forces. He enacted all these simple traits only to hide His real identity as the God incarnate. Under the cover of simplicity He silently worked for the spiritual transformation and liberation of innumerable souls – human beings and animals alike, who were drawn to Him, by an unseen forces.

He begged for alms and shared what he got with his devotees and all the creatures around him. He never kept any food in reserve for the next meal. He maintained the ‘Dhuni’ – the perpetual sacred fire and distributed its ash – ‘Udi’ as token of His divine grace to all who came to Him for help. Baba would ask for ‘Dakshina’ (money offered with reverence to the ‘Guru’ or the master) from some of those who came to see him. This was not because he needed their money but for deeper significance, which the devotees realized at, an appropriate time.

Baba used to freely distribute all the money that was received in the form of Dakshina to the destitute, poor, sick and needy the very same day. This was one of Baba's methods for testing out the devotees attachments to worthy things and willingness to surrender.
He ploughed up the village common land and raised a flower garden thereon, he watered the plants, carrying pots full of water on his shoulders. In the later years he spent a few hours in this Lendi garden which he himself had laid out in the early days.

He was every moment exercising a double consciousness, one actively utilizing the apparent Ego called 'Sai Baba' dealing with other egos in temporal and spiritual affairs, and the other - entirely superceding all egos as the Universal Ego or Over soul.

He was the common man’s God. He lived with them, he slept and ate with them. Baba had a keen sense of humour. He shared a ‘chillum’ (clay pipe for smoking) indiscriminately with them to write off the cast superiority and orthodoxy in their minds. He had no pretensions of any kind .He was always very playful in the presence of children. Baba used to feed the fakirs and devotees and even cook for them.

Saibabas perfect purity, benevolence, non -attachment, compassion and other virtues evoked deep reverence in the villagers around him. His divinity could not conceal itself for long. Initially when people wanted to worship him formally, Baba protested and dissuaded them. But gradually he allowed it with the prescience that it would become the means for temporal and spiritual benefits to millions of individuals for all time to come.

The Dwarkamai of Sai Baba was open to all, irrespective of caste, creed and religion. As the days passed devotees from all walks of life started streaming into Shirdi. The village Shirdi was fast assuming prominence. As the gifts and presentations flowed in, the pomp and grandeur of Sai worship also increased. But Baba’s life of a fakir remained calm, undisturbed, unaltered and there is the Saint’s spiritual glory.

He lived His divine mission through His pure self in a human embodiment. The immense energy that was manifest in the body of Sai was moving in a mysterious way, creating and recreating itself every where beyond the comprehension of time and space.

This fountainhead of unsurpassed spiritual glory shed His gross body on 15th October 1918. Every limb, every bone and pore of his body was permeated with divine essence. Baba claimed that though one day his physical body will not exist his remains will communicate with all those who seek him with inner yearnings. His self-allotted labour of love in His physical body was perhaps over. Today He continues to work ever vigorously as the ‘Sai Spirit’.s

Sai Baba of Shirdi

Sai Baba of Shirdi was a crown jewel among Saints. He lived his entire life out in a small and obscure village in India. The villagers of Shirdi each claimed him as a member of their own religion, Muslim or Hindu, but really he came to make peace between them and he always encouraged each to stick to his own religious path. He drew devotees from all over the country though he never traveled and never cared for fame. Over and over his devotees found he knew their innermost thoughts and details of their lives. He effected cures, conferred health, happiness, and prosperity, and made childless couples conceive.

His real purpose though was to awaken in them a longing for the spiritual life. Thousands thought of him as a wonderful saint with miraculous powers but his innermost circle knew him to be in incarnation of God himself. Some said of Datta, others of Shiva, still others saw ecstatic visions of their own beloved Guru or chosen Ishta (personalized icon of God) while gazing at Him. He himself said only that he was the humble servant of God and pleased and furthered all who came in contact with him. Many books have been written about Shirdi Sai Baba but the Shri Sai Satcharita, the story of Sai Baba's life and actions (quoted from below) was written in his own lifetime and is best known among Sai devotees. Just before leaving his body he told a disciple he would be reborn in a certain village 8 years hence and so it came to pass

Sai Baba was first seen as a youth of sixteen sitting under a neem tree in Shirdi. None knew his origin or past. Even then he seemed to be full of the knowledge of Brahman. He had no desire for worldly objects, even in dream. He kicked out Maya (illusion) and Mukti (illumination) was serving at his feet. This young lad, fair, smart, and very handsome, was first seen under a Neem tree seated in an Asan (meditative posture).

The people of the village were wonderstruck to see such a young lad practicing hard penance, not minding heat and cold. By day he associated with none. by night he was afraid of nobody. People were wondering whence that young chap turned up. His form and features were so handsome that a mere look endeared him to all. He went to nobody's door, always sat near the Neem tree. Outwardly he looked very young; but by his action He was really a great soul. He was the embodiment of dispassion and an enigma to all.

saint name Gangagir who frequented Shirdi said of him on first setting eyes on him "Blessed is Shirdi, that it got this precious jewel". Another saint by name Anandanath said "This is a precious diamond in reality, though he looks like an ordinary man. You will realize this in the near future."

Peace or calm was his ornament and he was the repository of wisdom. He had no love for perishable things and was always engrossed in self-realization. He did not know or care for honor or dishonor. The name of Allah was always on his lips. His inside was as calm as the deep sea. Though he sat in one place, he knew all the transactions of the world. Though a Siddha (realized being), he acted like a sadhaka (disciple on the spiritual path). He was meek, humble, and pleased all.

Shortly after coming to Shirdi Baba displayed his mastery over matter. He was fond of lights and used to borrow oil from the shop keepers to keep earthen dishes with wicks burning the whole night in the masjid (temple). After a while the shop keepers got together and decided not to give oil. Then they watched to see what Baba would do. Unperturbed, Baba poured water into his oil pot, took a drink from it, then filled all his earthen dishes with it and lighted them. To the surprise and dismay of the shopkeepers, the wicks began to burn and kept burning the whole night. Afterwards the shopkeepers repented and apologized

Unity of Faiths

Unity of Faiths

“There is only one religion; the religion of LoveThere is only one language; the language of the HeartThere is only caste; the caste of HumanityThere is only one God, He is Omnipresent."
In a significant discourse delivered by Bhagawan in Nairobi (Kenya, East Africa) on the 4th of July in 1968, Baba said,

“I have come to light the lamp of love in your hearts, to see that it shines day by day with added luster. I have come to tell you of this universal, unitary faith, this spiritual principle, this path of love, this duty of love, this obligation to love.

All religions teach one basic discipline - the removal of the blemish of egoism from the mind, and of running after trivial joys. Every religion teaches man to fill his being with the Glory of God, and evict the pettiness of conceit. It trains him in methods of detachment and discrimination, so that he may aim high and attain liberation. Believe that all hearts are motivated by the one God; that all faiths glorify Him alone; that all names in all languages and all forms man can conceive denote the one Supreme Being; His adoration is best done by means of love.

Cultivate that Eka-bhava (attitude of Oneness), between men of all creeds, all countries and all continents. That is the message of love, I bring. That is the message I wish you to take to heart.”

Teachings

Spirituality is generally considered to be an abstruse subject, and rather divorced from everyday life. But, Bhagawan who is the fountainhead of all knowledge and wisdom has presented the profound knowledge enshrined in the scriptures of the world in simple and easily comprehensible terms that can be grasped and practiced by anyone irrespective of age, gender, faith and nationality.

Ever since He declared His Divine Identity and Mission at the tender age of 14, Bhagawan has tirelessly been engaged in teaching and transforming an erring humanity. Though Bhagawan’s teachings are primarily concerned with spirituality, it also extends to other spheres of human knowledge and activity. These teachings of Bhagawan, primarily in the form of His Divine Discourses delivered to varied groups of audiences in various places over the past several decades since 1953, have been compiled in several volumes of ‘Sathya Sai Speaks’.

Apart from this, Bhagawan had also written series of articles for the magazine ‘Sanathana Sarathi’ that were compiled and published as the ‘Vahini’ series. The undercurrent of all of Bhagawan’s teachings is the principle of love. He has often stated that the essence of all His teachings is contained in the simple yet powerful canons – “Love All, Serve All. Help Ever, Hurt Never"

Understanding Sai Baba

Baba always maintained the "Dhuni" or the perpetual fire. The realisation that all the phenomenons of the nature are perishable and unworthy of our craving, is signified by "Udi" which Sal Baba distributed to all. Baba never left Shirdi. He talked to people who came to see Him. Sal Baba would often speak in symbols and parables leaving his devotees to work out the answer - such as, "A man had a beautiful horse, but no matter what he did, it would not run in harness. An expert suggested that it should be taken back to the place from where it had come.

This was done and it become tracable and useful". The explanation of this story is that the horse is the Ego. As commander of the physical and mental powers of man, it is useful but self-willed and therefore cause endless trouble. Taking it back to its source is re-absorbing it in the spirit source which it arises. It is the return to the source which purifies and enlightens. From there the ego issues forth again, no longer an ego, but a conscious agent of the spirit. Baba would ask for Dakshina (money offered with respect to the Guru) from some of those who came to see Him. This was not because he needed their money.

This was one of Baba's methods for testing out the devotee's attachment to worldly things and willingness to surrender his ego. Once one has surrendered himself totally to Him, Baba takes care of all His spiritual and temporal needs. Baba regarded money like everything else, in a symbolical manner. He once said, " I ask only from those who the fakir (God) points out and in exchange I give them ten times as much". By the end of the day, all the money Baba had earned was distributed to the destitute, poor, sick and the needy. Baba used to feed the fakirs and devotees and even cook for them. For those who were accustomed to meat, he cooked meat and for the others vegetarian fare.

The Dwarakamayee of Sai Baba was open to all, irrespective of caste, creed or religion. Among those who came to see him and got his darshan (establishing spiritual contact with the Guru) and blessings were ministers, government officials, business people and village folk. He was the common man's God. He Stayed with them, hejoked with them, He slept and ate with them, he smoked a chillum (pipe) with them, he sang and danced with them, having no pretensions of a God. But all of them Knew that He protected them.

Even today, though He has left his gross body, they feel his presence and realise his worth all the more. Baba would also refer to the sounding of the drum of the beginning of eternity within the soul. This "anahat" sound emerged from Baba's heart from every limb, every bone and pore of his body. It was permeated with divine essence and Baba claimed that though one day his physical body will not exist, his remains will communicate with from the grave. Therefore, the most important place in Shirdi is Baba's temple - the Samadhi Mandir is his grave, which literally millions have visited and still continues to draw many more.

Relevance of Sai Baba Today

Relevance of Sai Baba Today

The divine role of Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi in the present embodiment covered a period of about 64 years between 1854, when He made his first appearance in Shirdi, and 1918 when he left His body. However, his sixty years of stay at Shirdi on his second appearance between 1858 and 1918 manifested the depth and expansiveness of his unique role.India was in a cross - road of cultural and religious mix.

The Mughal empire was vanishing and the British empire was establishing itself. Western culture and Christianity were slowly entering into the mainstream of Indian life. Religious and cultural intolerance were raising their ugly heads in the Post Sepoy-Mutiny Scenario of India. It could not have been possible for any leader or statesman to bring about harrnony among the divergent religious, cultural groups in such a situation.

It was only a God in human form who could dare and accomplish the task of bringing unity between the different religious and social groups.Shri Sai baba had large number of Hindu, Parsee and Muslim devotees. Christians and Sikhs also used to visit Him. All were treated by him alike. Under his umbrella, both the Hindus and Muslims happily took part in each others religious festivals. The caste scheme of the Hindus had no relevance with Shri Sai.

He had introduced the tradition of group worship, group prayer and group dinning for all and would share his 'Chilum' (Tobacco pipe) with all. He even showed highest compassion for animals and birds and encouraged his devotees to feed and take care of them. He recognised no difference in temporal status of human beings. He refused to accept food brought in silver and gold utensils from a queen but relished a single ROTI (hand-made bread) of a beggar woman and showered all His blessings.-> He practiced and preached humanism and universal brotherhood - prophet like.-> He established the superiority of love and compassion above egoism - Christ-like.-> He taught simplicity of livelihood and excellence of human virtue reflected in day to day conduct, Buddha-like.

Today, the world is looking ahead for a magical solution to its problems of cultural, racial, national and religious differentiation. All intellectual exercises to bring about peace in -the world and happiness to mankind has failed for these efforts are not based on humanism, universalism and love as taught by Shri Sai. The ever multiplying number of Sai temples and devotees of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba in India and other countries establishes the ever- increasing relevance of His Preachings today. Jesus as an human embodiment is gone but the spirit of Jesus remains. The body of Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi cannot be seen but the magnetic pull of His Divine Soul is felt by all those who merely think of Him and particularly, those who visit His tomb at Shirdi. Baba had promised that whosoever would put his feet pn the soil of Shirdi, his miseries would end or marginalise.

All devotees of Baba find His promise come true, even eighty years after He left the mortal body. Baba used to call His devotees as children, and like the true father, kept busy day-in and day-out for their temporal as well as spiritual upliftment. In todays world the children of God, torn asunder by religious, social and sectarian strife, should run to the father to experience that love which can only unite them.Human beings may conquer all the planets and stars before they learn the magic formula to conquer the hearts of their fellow beings. The formula has been given by the Master. It is for us to follow to make the world a better place to live.

We have been strong believer of baba since last three years. I am basically from Nairobi, Kenya. As the matter of curiosity, me and my husband thought of applying for visas to USA. In July one fine day we called up the embassy to fix and appointment for interview, we got the appointment fixed on August 18, 2000. As 18 = 1+8 = 9 being a significant number I had confidence we will go thru it.

We had to prepare paper work for an interview, we were suppose to give strong proof of our ties in Kenya, good finanacial background. Since me and my husband were working, and had responsibilities of two girls , my daughters, The savings were not that much to make them confident. But we had strong background of place where we both were working. We prepared the necessary paperwork, I started reading Sai Satcharitra the week before so that I can finish and go for an interview. I finished reading on Tuesday and Wednesday morning we had to go for an interview. We had left everything on baba saying "YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOOD FOR US".

As we reached the embassy, there was a long queue.., and in that queue I saw a person who seems to be of Arab origin, but the clothes he had put on were white kurtan with white turban and had long white beard, when I was chanting sai sai he just turned around and I could see baba in him. As our number came …One of officer who was checking all the paperwork, as per attached to the form, and there was one section mentioned …if children are below certain age no photographs are required , so we didn’t take any pictures of girls. She told us to go and get them done at he near mall and be back before 10.00. As it was early morning 8.00 and the malls open at 9.30 .

We had to go and wait till the mall opens we tried other places also they were closed. After taking the pictures of girls we returned to embassy , just thinking why is this happening ? When we reached it was nearly 9.50 somewhere. And there were few ppl ahead of us in that line, for interview. We were called . Me and my girls were chanting baba’s name, having a baba’s key chain in my hand. As the officer was going thru papers, he just asked what were we working as and spoke to girls nicely and there he said go to other window pay your fees and get the passport next day. SAI RAM was the words came out of me and my husbands mouth. and i couldn’t believe it. The Officer didn’t even go thru the bank statements.

We paid the fees and we were silent all the way to our home and went straight to my mandir and bowed before him, and due to him we safely reached USA without any trouble. Since then me and my family have become more believer in Baba, he has been there when ever we called him. MAY SAI BLESS YOU ALL

Another person witnessing the help done by sai baba

I am really at a loss for words to describe about HIS Divine Personality which is unfathomable.Quite a few incidents in my life made me look up to THE DIVINE FATHER and exclaim 'You are indeed a saviour for humanity'.A few years back I lost my ATM card along with the pin number written on a piece of paper.After two days I realised that an amount of Singapore dollars 1000/- was withdrawn from my account.A thought just flashed across that Bhagwan Shirdi Sai would probably do the needful to salvage me from the crisis.

After a week or so,much to my surprise I received a call from one of the bank officers that the amount was deposited back to my account.Well,this is a miracle which is beyond human rationale.As a matter of thanksgiving I visited Shirdi last year.Likewise I got through my engineering exams about 12 years back with the grace of SAI,despite my average performance.After all HE is the cosmic examiner auditing our thoughts and faith and knows what is to be done when.Nothing is impossible for Lord SAI.

About 4 weeks back I appeared for my last Oracle certification exam and got through with HIS Grace.The day prior to the exam, I opened the Sai Satcharit in a very tensed mood only to read about SAI comforting a student that he would secure a pass notwithstanding the astrological predictions working against him.It was indeed a tremendous source of relief and I was confident that HE would guide me through the exam.True to HIS reputation of being 'Apathbandhava' he made me get through with the exact passmark!I got choked with emotion.I do pray that SAI would have the entire humanity in HIS fold so that the world would be a wonderful place to live in.

Even Today Miracles are Happening

i found this article on internet ..................

I want to share my experience with all the Sai Devotees. My name is Subash. I am 25 years old. From past 1 year I was suffering from severe stomach pain and I also had kidney stone problem. I had no peace of mind. I was not able to sleep at night. I was not able to concentrate on my work. The pain was very severe and I could not tolerate the pain. I had consulted nearly 10 famous doctors. It did not help me. I was not knowing what to do.

I am a Sai bhakta since 6 years. I started to pray to Sai to help me out. At the same time while I was browsing the net, I came upon this site. I was very happy when I read the devotees experiences. My bhatki increased towards sai and I realised that it is only SAI (my God, my friend) who can help me. From that day onwards I started reading the miracles of baba and the experiences of the devotees. It helped me alot. By the grace of baba my pain reduced and within a month I was completely fine. I could not believe it. It is a miracle of SAI, which I have experienced myself. I have no words to explain my joy and happiness.

Now, I am very happy. I and my family members are grateful to SAI. Last month I and my family members visited Shirdi (first time) to receive Baba's blessings and by the grace of SAI I and my family members are experiencing the miracles regularly. Om Sai Ram. O Mere Sai sometime you are very near to me and sometime You are too far. Why? I know I am wrong, I am still not able to devote much time for your Pooja, but still I am your child. Do punish me for the mistake I committed in my life, and still committing.

I have surrendered myself to 'shree Sai Charano par'. Give me your love and affection which I need badly. Please be with me and my family always, everywhere, everytime, in my happiness and sorrow. Om Shri Sai. I am a regular visitor to this site. I am very grateful to the team for providing the devotees of baba this beautiful site. I request you to inform me regularly about your activities and any information about baba. Thank you for giving me an opportunity to share my experience and feelings with all the SAI DEVOTEES