EDITORIAL Fifty-five years of Publication (April 1977)

Shri Sai Leela is being published for the last fifty-five years. With this issue, Shri Sai Leela enters its fifty-sixth year of publication. In the editorial for the month of April 1976, a brief history of the travel of Shri Sai Leela during the fifty-four years prior to 1976 was narrated. The milestones on the way were also pointed out, in that article. Our readers might perhaps recollect that the first issue of Shri Sai Leela was published on the first day of Chaitra (Gudhi Padwa) in Shaka 1845 (1923 AD). As we are stepping into a new year of publication, it would not be out of place here to narrate a short history of this first issue.

Of all the festivals, which are celebrated at Shirdi, Ramanavami is a very important festival. Even though the Samadhi day (Dasara), is also an equally important festival, still it is a common experience that the largest crowd, gathering at Shirdi, is for the Ramanavami festival. As this festival comes in the month of Chaitra, the then devotees must have thought of publishing the first issue in the month of Chaitra. Moreover Chaitra is the first month of the Hindu year. It was therefore quite appropriate to start publication of a new magazine from that month.

This first issue contained only thirty two pages and Shri Laxman Ganesh Mahajani's name appears thereon as its editor. No cost was printed on the issue. It was a sort of a sample issue and it was sent to all known Sai devotees free of cost. From a note printed on the cover page number two, we find that all the persons, to whom the issues were sent, were requested to become subscribers from the next issue. The annual subscription was only Rupees three and six annas (inclusive of postage). The

devotees were informed that the next issue would be sent to them by V. P. P. and that if somebody did not want to become a member, he may inform the editors accordingly, so that the Sansthan may not be put to loss.

The editorial of this first issue was as follows :

The brief summary of the above editorial is as follows ;

"The devotees of Shri Sai Baba are numberless and they are spread far and wide. These devotees constantly get experiences of the divine favours of Shri Sai Baba, which are really wonderful.

It may not be possible to compile one book of all these "Leelas" of Shri Sai Baba. However, it will be possible to publish them in this magazine from month to month. It is therefore proposed to publish these "Leelas" in this magazine for the knowledge and benefit of all the devotees. Shri Sai Satcharit, which is composed in 'Ovee from, was begun by Shri Dabholkar, when Shri Sai Baba was alive. The composition of that book was taken in hand by Shri Dabholkar alias Hemadpant with the blessings of Shri Sai Baba. It is therefore proposed to print it in this magazine seriatim.

The advice given to different devotees by Shri Sai Baba openly, in His darbar, is not their private property. It is common property of all the Sai devotees. Hence, it is hoped that all Sai devotees would unreservedly narrate their experiences. We request all the devotees to forward to us their experiences and assure them all, that utmost attention will be paid to the experiences that will be forwarded to us by the devotees for publication.

In short this service of the Goddess of wisdom is started because of the wish and blessings of Shri Sai Baba and it is the aim of this service that it will always help the devotees to remember Shri Sai Baba".

It will be seen from the above summary of the editorial that there were two main objects of the starting of the magazine, before the then editors:-

1) Publication of Shri Sai Satcharita.

2) Publication of the experiences of the devotees.

As Shri Sai Satcharita is now available in book-form in various languages, it no longer requires to be given a place in this magazine. As regards the second item, we may say that the power of Shri Sai Baba is endless. He is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. Hence, His "Leelas" are endless. With the spread of His devotees, His "leelas" also are multiplying. From nook and corner, various devotees are making it a point to communicate their experiences to us from time to time. From the experience! that are being printed in the issues of this magazine, it will be seen that the assurance given by the editors, in the first issue of this magazine, to go on paying keen attention to the experiences of the devotees, is still being followed strictly by the present editors.

As Sai cult is increasing enormously, the spread of this magazine also is boosted to a great extent. During the last four years or so the number of subscribers, both for the English as well as for the Marathi issue, has doubled. The gathering of the contributors that is being held at Shirdi every year for the last three years; is also helping a lot in this direction. The devotees also are canvassing with others for becoming subscribers. We are therefore thankful to all our readers and subscribers to have given us this encouragement.

From the material that is being published in this magazine at present, our readers will see that in addition to the experiences of the devotees, various other types of articles are being printed here in order to achieve spiritual progress of the devotees of Shri Sai Baba.

There is an eternal triangle behind most of the things that we come across every day. In the case of this magazine the triangle is formed by the subscribers on one side, the Shirdi Sansthan on the second and third side is formed by the power and blessings of Shri Sai Baba. The subscribers, who are the devotees, are no doubt very active in paying their subscriptions and welcoming the magazine on the first of every month. The contributors, who constantly maintain the influx of articles, are also devotees and hence their separate mention has not been made, though the publication of this magazine also depends on them.

Because of the broad outlook of the Court Receiver Shri Pathaksaheb and because of his devotion towards Shri Sai Baba, the attitude of the Shirdi Sansthan has always been favourable to continue the publication of Shri Sai Leela, even though a large subsidy is required to be given for that purpose; but apart from both the aforesaid two sides, the most important third side of the triangle is the blessing of Shri Sai Baba. As this magazine is devoted entirely to the spread of the teachings and advice of Shri Sai Baba, it is able to cross over any number of hurdles, that stand in its way, simply because of the force and favour of Shri Sai Baba, which sanctions its publication. We therefore hope to continue the publication of this magazine, with renewed enthusiasm, because of the cooperation of the human factor connected with it and because of the blessings of the supernaturalfactor, Who is having a benevolent look on it.