SWAMI
SIVANANDA SARASWATHY, ANAND KUTIR, RISHIKESH.
(Sree
Rama Navami Falls on 20-4-45. This is the birthday of Lord Rama)
Salutation
to Lord Rama, who is an Avatar of Vishnu, who is measureless, who is of t he
nature of pure intelligence and bliss, who is the consort of Sita, master of
Sri Hanuman and the Lord of the three worlds, and who took his birth at his
own, will to establish righteousness, destroy the wicked and to protect His
devotees.
Rama
was the Lord Hari Himself incarnate on earth for the destruction of Ravana. He
was well accomplished, beautiful and endowed with royal marks. His glory and
prowess were unlimited. He was peerless on earth. He was free from malice. He
was gentle and the protector of the people. He always addressed the people in
gentle words. He never used any harsh words even when somebody addressed Him
rudely. He had his away all over the country.
Devotion
to Sri Rama confers Immortality and Bliss. Therefore recite his name, sing his
glory, and serve His lotus feet. Enthrone in your heart Sri Rama of dark hue,
whose image is reflected in the heart of Lord Siva. I shall tell you the means
of attaining the final release from the great cycle of births and deaths.
Devotion to Vishnu is a great purifier of the heart. From devotion arises
knowledge. From knowledge comes the realisation of the pure Self. Knowing this
perfectly, one goes to the Supreme abode and merges in the Supreme Self.
Do
thou, therefore, today worship Vishnu, who is the Lord Rama, who is the consort
of Sita who is Lakshmi. Abandon all foolishness and enmity. Do thou serve Rama.
Without developing devotion to Rama, who is the Supreme Self, who lives in the
heart of all beings, who is all Bliss and who is second less, how can man cross
the ocean of worldly life which has sorrow, pain and misery for its waves?
Even a great sinner who is full of evil
qualities, who is fond of other people’s wealth and belongings, - if he always
remembers Sri Rama, - is freed from all kinds of faults that pertain to this
course of worldly life. He attains purity and goes to the pure supreme abode of
Vishnu.
Devotion
has absolutely nothing to do with age, caste, creed, position of rank or sex.
Generally, the worldly minded people say” We will practice Dhayna, devotion
etc. when we retire from service”. This is a serious mistake. How can you do
spiritual Sadhana after squeezing all your energy out in service? How can you practice the strict means of
Yogic discipline in old age? Is there any certainty of life? The spiritual
seeds of devotion must blossom and bear fruit when you become old, when you
retire from service. Then only you will be fearless of Yama – the God of death.
You will meet him with a smile.
Time
is fleeting. Know the value of time. Time is most precious. Utilise every
second profitably. Do not procrastinate Abandon all idle gossip. Forget the
past. Live every moment of your life for realisation of the ideal and goal.
Unfold all latent faculties. Grow, evolve and become a superhuman or a dynamic
Yogi. Struggle hard and reach the goal of life.
May
you all attain the final beatitude of life through intense devotion towards
Rama. May you all live immersed in the ecstasy of divine love and Suddha prem.
May Sree Rama, who is effulgent like a million suns, who is adored by the gods
and devotees, protect you all. May the blessings of Lord Rama be upon you all
!!! OM TAT SAT !!!
By
SWAMI
SIVANANDA SARASWATHI, Rishikesh.
The
Yoga of triple Yoga of service, devotion and knowledge are very essential for
Self-realisation. The one does not
contradict the other. On the other hand, they help growth and harmonious
development of the heart, mind and the intellect. It is mere folly to
discard any of these in the course of
one’s onward march towards the goal of life. Each Yoga supplements, helps and
complements the others. The Bhagavad Gita says, “ Sankhya Yogau prithak
Balah pravadanti na pandithaah”-
Children, not the wise, say Yoga and knowledge are distinct.
Though
Sri Sankara was a pure Advaita Vedantin he always worshipped a personal God. He
composed many verses and hymns in
praise of Devi, Lord Krishna, Hari, Siva and others. He did Lokasangraha or
selfless service unto humanity. There was no power on earth to compel him to do
work. He was free as a bird. Yet he served untiringly. He established four
Mutts. He initiated deserving students into Sannyas. He hoisted the flag of
Vedanta and established its supremacy over other philosophers. He put down the
misleading heads of various cults and schools who led humanity astray. He put
them in the right path. His philosophy today stands unparalleled. He wrote
several inspiring and elevating books. He inspires us even to day. His
commentaries on Prasthanatrayi is simply wonderful. Is there a greater Yogi, philosopher and a
Karma Yogi than Sri Sankara?
Sri
Sankara says, in one of his hymns to Hari, “ O Lord, though I and you are one,
yet I am thine but mine, just as the waves belong to the ocean only, and not
the ocean to the waves”.
Swami
Madhusudan Saraswati was one of the reputed saints of the 8th
century A.D. He was a Poorna Gnani and a Bhakta too. Even after he realised the
all-pervasive Self or Brahman he worshipped Lord Krishna. He said, “ Though I
behold the one Atman in all beings and see all as one yet my taste or craving
for the worship of the feet of Krishna never leaves me. To me Krishna is the
highest reality.” Krishnat-param kimapi tattavam aham nahjane- I do not know of
any supirior realisty than Krishna.
Though
Sant Tukaram was a great Bhakta he had the cosmic and Supreme Advatitic
Realisation. Some people hold the view that a Bhakta has no realisation of
oneness of the attainment of Brahma Sayujya. This is wrong. The Bhakta too
attains the state attained by Gnanins this may be observed also from the lives
of the South Indian Saiva saints like TirumalaNayanar, Appar, Sundaramurthi and
others. Though they adored Lord Siva with all their heart they had the highest
realisation of Brahman.
The
practice of Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga is as difficult as that of Gnana Yoga.
Keeping up of Atma Bhav while practising Karma Yoga in the
world is more difficult that the practice of Jnana Yoga while remaining in the
cave.
Work
must be done for the divine alone and in union with the divine and with the
right spirit and attitude. By doing constant selfless service with Ishwararpan
Buddhi the aspirant develops Bhakti. His will gets merged in the Divine Will.
His ego slowly perishes. Action done with the right spirit and mental attitude
is an powerful and effective as devotion and meditation. Action, devotion and
knowledge go together. Internal development and perfection are possible only
through the practice of this triple Yoga (Yogatraya). Karma Yoga includes
meditation and devotion. Lord Krishna says to Arjuna, “ Remember me at all
times and fight” i.e., do your duty. “ Take refuge in Me and surrender the
fruits of all your actions unto Me.” “Smarana” of the Lord consecrating the
fruits of all actions and self-surrender (Atma Nivedan) which are the
fundamental doctrine of Karma Yoga are really devotion in essence. Incessant
untiring selfless work leads you from devotion to knowledge and fulfills the
purpose of life.
May
you understand the philosophy of the triple Yoga and practice it in your daily
life and attain perfection in this very birth! May you be blessed!
Kumbakonam
Mr.
T.L.S.Mani Iyer reports the following experience of his:- Four months back, he
started from his place at 4 A.M. When
it was very dark, not a single municipal light was burning. And there was no
moonlight or other light. He had to carry 2 bags one containing nickel change
for Rs.50 and another containing small silver change for Rs,50. He had them in
his waist and walked on along the road. Suddenly the bags got untied and the
entire contents of both fell on the road and rolled off in what direction, he
could not see. There was then none on the road. To leave the place to go and
fetch a lamp was unwise, as before he returned, some passerby might strike his
foot against the coins and carry them away. So he kept on waiting. Sri Sai Baba
never for sakes his devotee. Soon some one came up the road and remarked that
the money ought to have been secured within the waistcloth more carefully. T.L.S.M
sat down at once on the road. Strangely enough, there was dim twilight (as
though at was 6 P.M.) and he could see the coins distinctly. He gathered the
whole lot, and did not lose even a single coin. The man who from T.L.S went
away. How suddenly the night became lit up with twilight just for a while was
the wonder.
Sri
T.L.S. Mani’s daughter is by Baba’s blessings fully recovering from her former
dumbness and is uttering more and more words as days pass.
Sri
T.L.S. Mani’s broken arm has almost healed. There is no pain now but full and
free use has not yet been restored by Sai.
Sri
D. Aswathanarayana Rao, Landlord, Doddakurugod. (Mysore State) writes as
follows:-
Myself
and my wife had many troubles and sufferings. My father-in-law who is a public
servant happened to visit our place. Seeing our troubles, gave us a brief
account of Sai Baba and asked us to go to Sri S.B.Kesavayya of Penukonda and
seek his blessings to get over the troubles. We went accordingly to Penukonda
for that purpose on a Thursday. It was
really a fortunate day for us. I saw hundreds of people coming from distant
places to see the Pooja and seek the
blessings of Baba through Sri S.B.K. We
had no issue for five years and my wife’s health was bad. When we approached
Sri S.B.K. in his pooja room, he gave Udhi to my wife to be kept with her
for 5 months and said she will have a son. To our surprise before the expiry of
the period, her health improved and she conceived. Sai blessed us with a son.
My
eldest sister-in-law who was carrying, had an accidental fall and she had an abortion and was bed-ridden. Her life was
in danger. She was taken to Sri S.B.K. on a Thursday. He gave her Udhi and told
her that she would be alright within a fortnight. She did recover happily.
Orders
have been passed for the separate publication of the Telugu section of Sai Sudha as a Separate Journal, which will be printed and published at Ellore by
its Editor Sri K.N. Chaudary, B.A. B.L.
(Vice- President of A.I.S. Samaj)
from 15-6-1945. those who wish to receive the Telugu contributors for the
Journal also will kindly do the same.
If
subscribers of the Journal who do not want the Telugu section will please
inform A.I.S.S., Mylapore or Sri K.N.C., Ellore, they will help in reducing our expenditure and as the
Journal is working at a loss, the loss will be reduced. Or some more copies of
Telugu may be released for free distribution.
Though
thee Journals are district, Members of A.I.S.S, are entitled to have either or
both, as they choose. The policy editor is our highly esteemed Vice-President
and will keep in touch with A.I.S.S,
whose organs both these are.
First
Anniversary of this Association celebrated on 15-4-1945, at Kumaran Park.
B.V.N. Swami presided and lectured on the Bhagavad Gita. Girls sang some Sai Baba songs. Annual
Report of the Association was read and
passed. Arati and Viniyogam at Sai Nilayam followed.
The
Sai Seva Mandal, Shroff Bazaar, Tenali is trying to get funds for building a
Sai Mandir. So they staged a Telugu Sai Drama on 6-4-1945 at Bezwada and are to
stage it again by the end of April ‘45 at Guntur for the same purpose.
2nd
April 1945 – The Divine Life Society conducted its FIFTH SADHANA WEEK at its
Headquarters, Sivanandashram – Rishikesh, during Easter from 29th
March to 2nd April. Opening with Prabhat pheeri on the 30th
morning a programme of common prayer, meditation, daily reading of scriptures,
worship and Sankirtan, group Asan,
Pranayam and Surya Namaskar was conducted. Lectures and instructive Upadesh
touching upon all aspects of spiritual life and practice were given on each
day. On the last day a havan for world peace and welfare was performed and a
number of Mahatmas and the poor were fed.
Coimbatore
Sai
kanya Gurukulam, Coimbatore, will be inaugurated during the Middle of June
1945:
In
the meantime Patrons and Life Members, who have not paid their fees are
requested to send up the same to A.V.K. Chari, Sai Baba Mission, Lawley Road,
P.O.(Coimbatore) to help the organizer to form the necessary committee before
inauguration.
Sri
Sai Bhakta Samaj, Ootacamund
Celebrated
Sri Rama Navami Utsava from 19th to 22nd April with
Sahasranama Archana and Bhajans daily.
T.Ramakrishna
Sons celebrated Jayanthi celebrations at G.T. on 20th April 1945
with Pooja and Music.
Nagasai
Mandir – Coimbatore
The
Trustees Meeting held on 8-4-45 under
the President ship of Sri V.C.Velliangiri
Gounder authorized Sri Varadarajaya, the owner and the Managing Committee
Member, to administer the Mandir affairs,
construction, collection etc, and to operate on the accounts in the
Indian Bank Ltd.
Contributions
towards building Fund may be sent to the Nagasai Mandir account in the Indian
Bank Ltd., Coimbatore, or to Sri Varadarajaya, Managing Trustee, Nagasai
Mandir, Lawley Road Post, Coimbatore.