Sri Sai Spiritual Centre - Bangalore. Its Landmarks and Activities.

"Upholding the fiat of Love and Compassion of Sri Sai, engage your entire life till the last breath in Sai Prachar work. That will be your Guru Seva " was the dictate given by Shri Narasimha Swamiji to Shri Radhakrishna Swamiji.

"In 1952, Sri Narasimha Swamiji deputed Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji to Bangalore for Sai Prachar work in that State. For Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji it was a heartrending farewell, for it was 12 years before he entered the All India Sai Samaj premises again. He met his Guru during his infrequent visits to Bangalore and the last time he met him was a few months before his passing away. " The last words ", Swamiji said, that I heard from him during his last visit to Bangalore in May 1956, were, "Trust God fully". Trust in Lord Sai. Worship and adore Him. Let your faith be not shattered. Great changes are going to take place. Hold the feet of Baba, you will be blessed. In the case of Sai and Sri Venkusa, remember their perfect purity, asceticism, general benevolence, harmlessness, non-attachment and other virtues. One should try to emulate them. Then He will be benefitted ".

Three years earlier, Sri Narasimha Swamiji had written to him saying: " Hereafter, you will be known as Saipadananda ". That was the Guru's accolade to his devoted desciple. ( Ref: Apostle of Love. p. 69-70 ).

LANDMARKS

1952 Deputed by Sri Narasimha Swamiji, the Apostle of Shirdi Sai Baba and the Founder-President of All India Sai Samaj, Madras, his trusted disciple Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji (who was then Vice President of the Samaj) arrived in Bangalore and commenced in right earnest his mission of organising 'Sai Bhakti Prachar' in this area.

1954 Formal inauguration of " Sri Sai Spiritual Centre " by Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji on the occasion of Sri Ramanavami celebrations organised by devotees at South End Road, Bangalore, on April 4, 1954 (On Ugadi Day)

1962 The present site owned by Sri Domlur Krishnamurthy ( Retd. Asst. Controller) and held in trust by Sri V. S. Sastry gifted to the Centre, on Guru Poornima Day.

1965 Formal opening of the nucleus of the present building by Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji on June 17, 1965.

1967 Magrrificent life size colour portrait of Sri Sai Baba donated by Sri S. Doraiswamy unveiled by Smt. Saraswati Bai Giri in the presence of SH V. V. Giri (then Governor of Karnataka State) on April 27'„ 1967.

1970 Registration of " Sri Sai Spiritual Centra " under the Mysore Societies Registration No. 17 of 1960 ( Reg. No. S. 20/70-71 dt. 6-5-1970 )

1972 Exquisite idol of Sri Radhakrishna donated by Sri Harshad Patel installed by Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji on March 23, 1972.

1978 (May 5 to May 15) Silver Jubilee of the Centre, installation of ths life size marble statue of Sri Sai Baba and 60th Mahasamadhi of Sri Sai Baba

Release of:

i) The Silver Jubilee Souvenir

ii) 'Muddu Makkalige Olavina Kanike'- Kannada translation by Sri B. S. Narayana
Murthy, of Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji's 'Gifts to Little Children'

iii) "Talks with Swamiji " - compiled by Dr. P. S. Narayana Rao and Dr. B. K. Raghu Prasad.

1978 July Publication of the booklet " Gems from the Sayings of Sri Sai Baba" with Kannada rendering compiled by Sri B. S. Narayana Murthy.

1980 Sri Saipadananda Radhakrishna Swamiji Founder-Patron of the Centre attained Mahasamadhi (Jan. 14, 1980 Uttarayana Punyakala)

1981 (Dec 3 to Dec 6) ALL INDIA SAI DEVOTEES CONVENTION. Installation of the to exquisite marble statue of Sri Saipadananda Radhakrishna Swamiji.

Release of :-

i) "Apostle of Love" written by Sri R. Parthasarathy and

ii) "Sri Radhakrishna [Swamiji's Spiritual Recipes" compiled by Sri R. Seshadri

iii) Album of 200 crayon sketches drawn by Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji presented to the Centre, by Smt. & Sri A. V. Kannan.

1983 (April 21) Release of the Book "Sri Narasimha Swamiji - Shirdi Sai Babaravara Pr-ema Dootharu" - Kannada translation by Sri B. S. Narayana Murthy of Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji's "Sri Narasimha Swamiji, Apostle of Sri Sai Baba of Shirdhi".

1984 (April 21) Release of the Book "Gems from Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji's Sayings" with Kannada renderings, compiled by Sri B. S. Narayana Murthy.

1985 (Octo 23 23 and 25) KUMBHABHISHEKAM of New Gopuram and Inauguration of Meditation Hall, Library Block and Retiring Rooms - by H. H. Srimath Chidananda Swamiji, President, Sri Ramakrishna Ashram, Bangalore.

1987 (April 20) Release of SAIPADANANDA magazine by Sri R. Parthasarathy, Madras.

1988 Inauguration of Sri Sai Spiritual Centre, Library - Release of book Oct. 20 'Kaliyuga Kalpatharu - Sainatha Maharajaru' by Sri Puttanna.

1989 Release of Kannada book - 'Sahasranama Priya - Saipadananda', by Sri Puttana.

Inauguration of Sri Saipadananda First Aid Health Centre, by Sri R. Jagannathan, IPS, Spl. Home Secretary, Govt. of Karnataka.

Mar 16 AKHANDA SAINAMA SAPTHAHA - non-stop chanting OM SAI SRI SAI JAVA JYA SAI - BABA's Padukas, Vastras (Kupni) were brought from Shirdi by Sri Ashok Mahalsapathy, grandson of Sri Mahalsapathi.

Nov. 5 Installation of Prabhavali and Simhasana to Sri Sai Baba.

ACTIVITIES

Daily programmes include chanting of Vishnu Sahasranama by devotees. Noon Arathi, Evening Arathi, followed by chanting of Vishnu Sahasranama, Bhajan and Arathi till 8.30 p.m. On all days there will be Rudra-Abhishekam in the morning (On Mondays and Thursdays in the evening also) to Guru Padukas. On every Sunday morning, there will be special Abhishekam to BABA and SRI SWAMIJI.

Special functions include Baba's Mahasamadhi Day celebrations, Maha-sivarathri. Guru Poornima, Ramanavami and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji's Birth Day and Aradhana. During these functions, special Bhajans, talks from eminent saints and from public are arranged. Vishnu Sahasranama Homa is performed once a year during one of the above functions.

The Centre is publishing a quarterly magazine 'SAIPADANANDA' mainly devoted for propagating the ideals of Sri Sai Baba and Sri Saipadananda.

At present, the Centre has undertaken writing of SAI KOTI MAHATARAKA NAMA YAGNA. Many devotees have written and offered over one crore •OM SAI SRI SAI JAVA JAVA SAI' Tharaka Mantra at the HOLY Feet of Sai. The Yagna is expected to conclude by Ramanavami 1991,