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EDITORIAL – SOME STAGES IN THE QUEST
The experience of the mystic is the basis of all religion, but it illustrates only more sharply than the experience of ordinary men certain permanent and universal traits or needs in human nature. The mystic usually begins his career with a vision, with some kind of communication with the divine. This initial vision may be brought about by spiritual discipline, meditation or Yoga, or it may overtake him suddenly and without forwardings of any kind. The spirit floweth where it listeth, and it is impossible to say what stimulus is necessary to get us the vision of the mystic or even to make us mumukshus and jignasus, seekers of emancipation and knowledge. It is claimed for the practice of yoga that it can put this vision at our command. But one should in the first instance decide to practice yoga before becoming a yogin. The self is to be attained, says a famous passage in the kathopanishad, only by those whom It elects. In other words, only the grace of God can first put us on the definitive quest towards him. The initial vision or desire for religious experience is often accompanied by a transmutation of spiritual values, by a sense that one who is happy as the world goes in health, wealth, love and friendship and is free in conscience may yet find the sources of his happiness inadequate, that one may question the sufficiency of works’ and look forward to never plans of experience. This initial phase, whatever form it takes, often leads to a consciousness of grace, and an assurance of ultimate peace.
But it is often followed immediately by a sense of loss, a feeling of estrangement from God. Much great poetry has been inspired by this state of separation between God and the bhakta. It leads generally to restlessness, and distracted attempts to be re- united with God. Some times nor being certain of the value of religious experience and longing still for the sources of happiness which it has sought to displace, men have sought to get away from it. It is doubt and hesitancy and the struggle that they give rise to have finely pictured as a present by God of the human soul. It is His grace that puts our feet on the road leading to Him and it is His grace that must lead us on the road leading to Him on that road. An English poet, Francis Thompson, has –described God as the Hound of Heaven, who hunts the run-away soul and compels it to surrender. The poet asks:
Ah! is Thy love indeed
A weed, albeit it an amaranthine weed,
Suffering no flowers except its own mount?
Such estrangement and separation from God mean a terrible spiritual agony for the mystic, a painful experience offer called the dark night of the soul. It is a state of desperate listlessness, and in it the mystic has achieve self-conquest and selflessness.
Escape from this state is not through active effort, but through a wise passivity, thorough absolute confidence in and self – surrender to God. Waiting and acquiescent are essential in the life of the soul, and those who thus there comes sooner or later the bliss of fulfillment, of renewed union with God.
All these stages of initial dissatisfaction with the usually accepted sources of happiness and a partial attainment of God, of a sense of loss and estrangement from god of attempts to achieve a re-union, of passive waiting and reliance on God’s grace, and of final assurance and fulfillment, mark the careers of most of the famous bhaktas and mystics of the world.
By Swami
Sivananda
The cause of quarrels, fights and war is ignorance. Selfishness, greed, pride, egoism, hatred are all born of ignorance. They are products or modifications of ignorance. He who has realized oneness of life, unity of consciousness will never engage himself in strife or quarrel.
Removal of ignorance only can stop all future wars and dissensions. Spiritual culture, ethical education, measures that are beat calculated to install love and sense of unity in men and women can prevent nations from entering into war.
Every man or woman should have a clear and comprehensive understanding of the goal or purpose of life. All people should get spiritual training and ethical culture.
Spiritual universities and Yoga institutions should be started in all parts of the world.
The Sanyasins, Yogins, Mahatmas, Mandaleswaras, Bhagavats of India should start a vigorous, organized propaganda. They only can create a new era and a world order. They only can create a new spiritual atmosphere of peace. They only think calmly and handle the situation. They are selfless people. They have no selfish motives. They live for the well being of the humanity. They should be given a free hand in the shaping the destiny of the world of the present day. They will render all possible help to peace and Unity.
Spiritual organizations of Sadhus and Sanyasins is very necessary. This work must be started now. Then only the post- war constructive work can be done very efficiently.
All the Prime Ministers must have good training in Yoga and Vedanta. They should be pious, God fearing, kind and merciful. They should all lead a divine life. Then only they can do good to the nation and the world at the large. They should come to India for training in Yoga.
If all people practice Yama, kindness and mercy, how can they stand with weapons and guns in their hands to destroy each other.
Any international League or part or treaty without a spiritual basis will totally fail to bring about lasting peace and happiness for the world. War will again break out some time with redoubled vigour and increased hatred. More machine guns and aero planes will be constructed.
All people should become vegetarians. This will help them to grow in spirituality and practice Yoga and ethics.
Akhanda kirtan centers must be started in all parts of the world. All people should practice some meditation and prayers in the early morning hours. Scriptures that treat on Bhakti, Yoga and Vedant must be studied by all. Theses books should be introduced in all schools and colleges of the world. Study of Sanskrit must be made compulsory in all schools and colleges of the world.
Students should be trained in Karma Yoga pr selfless service.
Sadhana weeks should be conducted twice or thrice in a year in each spiritual center. Every town must have a spiritual center.
Sanyasins should become advisors to Government. They should guide the Prime Ministers.
Nations neglected to lead the divine life. They forget about the teachings of Lord Jesu’s sermon on the mount. Hence they become materialistic and forgot their essential divine nature. This is the cause for the present war.
There should be several Yogic research institutes. Here whole-timed aspirants will lead a life of pure meditation and research in their own Selves.
The world should be flooded with spiritual bulletins and literature and Yoga magazines.
If the above measures are put into practice you will have real heaven on earth. There will be Satya Yuga or Ram Rajya again. There will be no necessary building aeroplane or making machine guns.
Remember friends ! that the salt of life is selfless service, the bread of life os universal love, the water of life os purity, the sweetness of life os devotion, the fragrance of life is generosity, the pivot of life os meditation and the goal of life is emancipation or Moksha.
Remove suspicion, hatred, ill will, jealousy, and selflessness. Establish peace in your heart by meditation on the ever-peaceful Self or Atma who dwells in the chambers of your heart. Then only you will be able to establish peace in the world. Individual peace alone can lead to the establishment of universal peace.
You have already witnessed the horrors of the war. When all the dear relations have perished, when the whole land is devasted, when the resources of the country have been drained, how can there be happiness when one begins to rule?
May there be peace, plenty and prosperity throughout the whole world. May all nations be united by the bon d of love! May all recognize the oneness of life!
By SRI SWAMI RAJESWARANANDAJI MAHARAJ OF MADRAS
At the Second Anniversary of the Bombay Spiritual Centre, on 9th December 1943, Bombay
(The following is a summary)
After thanking the Founders, Chairman and Members of the center for their cordial welcome and the honour done to him by their invitation to preside over the celebrations, the Swamiji swell on the need for salvaging the modern world with the help of religion and spirituality. Life to-day demanded the creation of a heaven on earth, man needed to travel far from his present round of troubles and bitterness. Civilization had become bankrupt, and each nation seemed to be hunting after the broken arc, missing the perfect orb. Let the world be re-built on the foundation of love, truth and humanity, and let there be a federation of all states with God as the guide. This object must be attained sooner or later, for the universe is a cosmos and not chaos. Discord and strife are appearances artificially produced. Like orchestral music, the universe is governed by the law of harmony. But when the law is distributed, when the strings of the sympathy are impaired, we have a medlay of noises. What one should to see to it that the wrong keys are not pressed. Life is a song and it must be sung well. Only then would peace dwell in individual as well as collective affairs. Differences are not real; they are evanescent, passing shadows. One should pierce through these differences and get to the one abiding God, the changeless among the changing., the bodiless among all bodies, the unity in the midst of diversity. Man is not related to God as creature to Creator, or as son to father, or as part to whole, or a spark to fire. There cannot be any division in the Infinite. There is nothing else but God. The reality is the One without a second. If this were realized, amity and peace would prevail.
The Swamiji then proceeded to show man’s egoity or the false sense of individuality was responsible for much of strife and struggle in life. Consciousness of inviduality stands as a barrier to the realization of the infinite Reality. To disown individuality is to own universality. It is the ego that walls between man and man, brother and brother, nation and nation. It is the ego that makes one swing like a pendulum between tears and smiles, likes and dislikes, on the clock of fragmentary existence. One must transcend individual consciousness and love all in the knowledge that every living being is a moving temple of the Lord. It is names and forms that distinguish and divide. When these are scraped there is no difference. The supreme Reality is not an external consciousness as in walking, nor inward consciousness as in dream, nor it is ingathered consciousness as in sleep. It is pure consciousness that does not vary and is constant. It is self-luminous and self-validating. Religion consists in realising this non-duel Self. It is not mechanical, mysterious or miraculous. It is not material nor mental, mundane nor supermundate. It does not consist of doctrines or dogmas, prescriptions and prohibitions. Religion is unity of life, integral experience. It gives one the heroism necessary to play one’s part as prince of page, not as an automaton but as a self-conscious being to the best of his ability in the drama of life on the stage of this world, realizing at the same time that he is not of the world though in it. It is such a life that expresses religion truly lived.
This truth is common to all religions, the Swamiji continued. The prophets spoke the same tongue. The potential divinity in man must be kindled, and the foundational principle itself. All should wake up to the holy message of Self-hood, at the back of all phenomena must be allowed to express the Self-hood that includes and transcends the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God. When a person identifies himself with his body, he thinks that he os a servant of God; when he feels that he is the soul, he regards himself as a part of Him; when he realizes that he is the infinite Self, he is non-different from God. The true man of spirit attains to this synthetic view of life and sees God everywhere. When a person grows in spiritual wisdom, his nature expands, his consciousness expands, until the entire world becomes his abode and all can unite- Hindu and Muslim, Parsi and Christian, Jain and Buddha, one and all can stand shoulder, embrace one another as members of a great all-inclusive family of humanity and welcome truth from whatever quarter it may come and perceive the many coloured lights blend into one harmonious supreme radiance. Let every one express the soul of Krishna, the heart of Buddha, the brain of Sankara, the forgiveness of Jesus, the zeal of Mahomed, the devotion of Chaintanya, the sincerity of Zoroaster, spirit of Nanak and the religious harmony of Ramakrishna. Let every one express the oneness of all, and radiate the beauty of the Self, the bliss of the Beyond.
In connection the Swamiji said that India has always stood for such a spiritual synthesis. It has the Self as the supreme and absolute truth, the only centre of life and existence, the source of all inspiration and illumination, the goal of all endeavour and search. By a realisation of this truth let life be made an oasis in the desert of this world, sowing peace and goodwill all around, in the pilgrimage of the soul towards its destination. Let one and all be steadily seated on the throne of truth, calm and collected, directing the kingdom of activity through the rod of all embracing love, carrying the light of toleration and waving the banner of freedom and unity.
BY B.V.N.SWAMY
In the last issue, under the caption” Is Sai to broken?” two instances were mentioned of devotees getting violently angry with the object of their worship., Sai Baba and breaking his image. In both the cases, the devotion of the image breakers was revived or strengthened, as the result probably of Sai’s conferring benefit that had been withheld for a time. Sai Baba being a kind Mother granted a blessing even after the devotee broke away from him or her (for really there is no Sex in God) in high dudgeon. This is true Motherly Love.
This is the basis of “Satyagaha” which is always successful (whether violent or non-violent) within groups where strong love prevails between the members. The question arose whether success justifies the use of violence, and the answer has been given that momentary success in gaining the desired object is a very petty matter which can not counter balance the dreadful evil results of violent iconoclastic frenzy. Amongst the evils are the danger of the bad example being freely followed and iconoclasticism becoming the raging fashion among large numbers as also the positive harm to the individuals concerned in allowing Rajas and Tamas to predominate and engulf all Satwa, so as to bring one to a spiritually lower level. The success in the above mentioned cases might perhaps have been attended by a strong wave of repentance which would naturally wash off the evil vasanas of Anger, Irreverence, & c,. and if that be so, the second evil mentioned above has been averted in these cases. This naturally lead us to consider the subject of Virodhi Bhakti.
People believe that all Bhakti devotion must be characterized by love and consider hatred as the exact opposite Bhakti. They can as easily think of Virodhi Bhakti as of Black Whiteness. Yet Srimadh Bhagavata which may be regarded as our Bhakti Sastra says: -
That is why the term Vyree Bhakti is in common use. The cases of Ravana, Kamsa, and Hiranya Kasipu are cited as instances of such Virodhi Bhakti. Several of us would rather regard these cases as instances of violent poisonous hatred getting into a previously healthy Loving system which might have naturally killed out all Love or Bhakti except for the special grace of God that checks effects of the poison by strengthening the reserve power of power of revival of health that every organism possesses within certain limits. The hatred is undoubtedly poisonous but by Divine grace the old Love is not destroyed but only temporarily clouded or muddled. Just as perennial and powerful spring or artesian well may thrust out thousands of ounces or even maunds of poison poured on it. It is this analogy that would induce one to refuse the name Bhakti to hatred, which is entirely foreign to its nature. But the analogy is not exact by reason of the peculiar nature of Jivas which lead some to consider hatred as negative electricity applied to one side of the Jivas producing by induction the opposite of it Viz., positive Electricity or Love in another side. Arguments by analogy are often attended with great danger and so we might avoid discussion of the prosperity of the name Virodhi Bhakti and at least out of regards for Srimadh Bhagavatas accept its classifications and labels in this matter and proceed to consider (1) whether during the currency of continuance of any one’s hatred to Baba, God or other personality, there are any means of nothing if it is really a case of Bhakti and if it will end in restoration of the love that should characterise Bhakti and (2) secondly, if there are no such means, what steps o attitude the person concerned and his well wishers should adopt.
BY A. SWAMINATHA AYYAR
The simplest idea conveyed by Music is that it is an art which employ sound as the medium of artistic expression. It has a province of its own in many respects anatague to, but yet distinct from the other art, such as literature, sculpture, painting or architecture, in that it suggests the inward feelings of the outward expressions of the latter. This quality places music on the higher level of art excellence and has the merit of serving the purpose of a universal primary the giving of pleasure to man in his several stages of physical and mental development. But the aesthetic respect of music is not the whole thing. It is also the means where by the individual is enabled to put himself in harmonious relationship with the longer life of which he is a part. There is no tradition point the origin of music with the Highest Deity manifested in his true aspect of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara. Brahma the grand-Siva his supposed to be ever engaged in changing the Vedas which contain the earlier music known to man, especially the Sama Veda, for it is this Veda which has the full complement of seven notes. The Lord Sri Krishna in the Bhagavat Gita says” of Vedas I am the Samam” and He is associated with the flute in which he plays the song of life. Mahadeva is also Nataraja, the King of dancers. Music is incomplete without dance and expression (Nartana). The Ananda tandava of Nataraja is the cosmic dance that starts the course of involution or disintegration of the universe at Mahapralaya. The four-faced Brahma kept Narada sang accompaniment. So our traditional conception of music (Sangita) is harmonious synthetic and interrelation of song, dance, instrument and expression.
One can understand why the world’s greatest thinkers, seers and prophets have characterized music as the solace of the afflicted mind a kind of unfathomable speech which leads us to the Infinite. I have already referred to the Riks of the Rig Veda which as the earliest musical compositions that we know of. The Riks are addressed to Agni- the messenger from man to God, the mediator between them. We have hymns addressed Indra of the thunderbolt, with which he renders asunder the dark clouds so that the heavenly rays and waters may descend to bless and fertilise the earth. Indra has his abode in mid- air. The brilliant Sun God, who rules the sky, is besought to enable the germination of seed and the maturing of crops and to enable the flocks on which agriculture depends to thrive in gladsome prosperity. The conception of Vedic Gods as terrestrial, aerial and celestial apparently means no more than that the Manifestations of divine power in nature may be traced to three centers of force, one in the sky, one in the air and one on the earth. The Riks of the Rig Veda contain indelible traces of how the poet in man opens out a Vista of grandeur and sublimity, a sense of sweetness and sincerity in which he plays the role of an humble and cheerful devotee. The Vedic Aryan “ approaches his Gods with meek, yet cheerful submission intertwines them with his own self and gather strength. Many a hymn may be cited to show how the spirit if submission to the Divine will operated as a factor in his scheme of life. As his intellectual horizon widens, we find his view of life becoming more and more speculative and his mind yearns in search of something beyond “what he has been a accustomed to see or to conceive. The unfolding and perfecting of the human self becomes the greatest problem of man. And to merge in one individual unity the spirit of man; the spirit of nature and the spirit of God was the supreme achievement of the Rishis who sang the immoral Upanishads. The emanation of the human self from the Infinite and its final return to the Infinite, became the theme of the speculations of the Poet Rishis And we find in the early Upanishads the question asked almost in the same words as in the written of the Greek or the Chinese philosophers or in the philosophers of Modern Europe- questions which must have been asked for thousands of years whence are we born? Whither are we going?
To the great majority of mankind however, such speculations can be of little avail and to these, the immoral epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabhratha came as a welcome relief and served as the vehicle through which was conveyed the message of the godly and heroic in human relations. The story of the origin of the compositions of the Ramayana is significant. As Valmiki roamed through the forests around his Ashrama, he marked with pleasure the happy sights and scenes around him, the sporting animals and the merry birds. And as he was watching a pair of Krancha birds sporting each other, a fowler shot one of the pair and the hen-bird fluttered round her dying mate uttering piteous cries. Bhagvan Valmiki, moved by pity and love, also cried aloud. His words fell into the form of a sloka, musical and sanorous and Brahma appearing before the sage bade him tell the story of Sri Ramachandra in that melodious metre. Thus as aptly observed y Dr. Radhakrishnan, the other day, out of oka was born the sloka, and wherever is chanted, these qualities still find birth, In the Mahabharata, we have the Lord’s song the Bhagavat Gita, and the Vishnu Sahasranama, addressed by Bhisma from his bed of arrows, to the Pusushottama. Well as Sankaracharya, said sing the gita and the thousand namas of the Lord- Geyam Gita Nama Sahasranam.
Coming later periods, we have in the stotras (devotional hymn lyrics) as an expression of feeling comparable to the Riks of the Rig Veda, and in which we find the old Hinduism of feeling and fervour reasserting itself. The inspiration of the Vedas and the strotras find full expression in the devotional songs of the poet saints of India. The earliest recorded name is that of Jayadeva Goswami (Bengal) 12th century whose master piece the “ Gita Govinda” is a perpetual source of inspiration to the devoted. To this brilliant galaxy of India’s Saint Singers belong Guru Nanak, Kabir, Tulasidas, Surdas, Mirabai and Haridas in the north, Samarth Ramadas, Eknath, Tukaram Sadhu, Vamdev and Jnanadev in the Maharastra country and Ramdas Swami of Bhadrachalam, Ksharajna (North Arcot), Purandaradas, Sri Thygaraja, Muthuswami Dikshidar and Samasastri, Andal and Arunagiri Nathar, all coming from the Southern county who have endeavoured to keep alive the lofty aspiration and the many-sided spiritual culture of India, the noble heritage to which they were the worthy seccessiors.
In theses days of democratization music, its spiritual aspect may come to be ignored, while far much prominence may be given to its aesthetic aspect. Not that the latter aspect of music should be left in the cold. The technique of an art, must invariably be as perfect as possible, for behind the conscious mental impulse to perfection, there is always an unconscious psychic impulse to contact God, the Archetype of perfection. But the danger is when art becomes a dictator in the spirit, instead of being its standard bearer. This should be guarded against.
There is music in every heart and when the master musicians of the world sought to invoke the aid of music to realize the Infinite. They spoke not for one country or nation, but for all mankind. There is souls sympathy with sounds; some chord in unison with what we hear is pinched within us and the heart relies. There is a harmony between the constitution of man and that of nature and whatever is most perfect (i.e., beautiful), in the outer world excites the most perfect and delightful emotion in the soul of man. And when Divine music touches this chord, we seem to have a new freedom, a new extension of over personality, a yearning for the realization of the larger self of which were a part. We seem to have a vision of the world harmony, the Divine Dominion of Loves supine and a new conception of brotherhood, Music if it should serve its highest purpose, must be liberated from the prison of the ego. One cannot worship God and mammon with the same oblation. Well and the Apostle St. Paul, said in one of his famous Epistles, “ I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the understanding also”. If this is borne in mind, the outer vesture of a song, its language garb becomes a secondary consideration.
BY P.N.JANAKIRAMAN, B.A., BOMABY
(Note:- Not poetry, not prose, but Filled with Emotions
No rhyme, no rhythm but Filled with Truth, Love and Light)
My only cry is the cry for liberation,
From the bondage of the body,-
And the prison of (world) delusion;
My only cry is for freedom from cage body
The cry that increasing daily within,
The cry that appeals to the Lord within,
The cry that looks for help within.
My only cry is directed towards one end,
My only cry is for that only end;
God, the omniscient, the omnipresent,
And the omnipotent, everything knows.
The only cry raised within the walls of mind,
The only cry is also heard within the wall of mind,
The only cry is curious in its non-manifestation outside the mind,
The cry is s still cry within the walls of mind.
My only cry is due to that want of silence,
My only cry os due to that longing for that silence,
My only cry is aimed at getting that silence.
The cry, I fear, will be a cry in the wildness,
The cry, I tremble, will be a cry in the wildness:
No, No, It can’t be, since, I know that My Beloved,
Will’ it leave me in wildness, for He is My Beloved.
My only cry is not for earning riches or fame,
My only cry is not for earning name or game (of life),
My only cry is not the cry of the senses,
My only cry goes beyond the scope of the senses.
Of course, true it is, the terrible anti-currents os senses,
In a way, paralyse, my cry, the still cry,
O, what can they do, before the Master of senses
Seated in my heart, watching my still cry.
The cry, is in the form of revolting waves,
In the ocean of Mind, the source of all waves,
When the waves of senses rises, to dash the waves of cry,
The waves of cry (for the Lord) rise in revolt, raising its still cry.
The most resplendent and Effulgent Light !
Shining in all the glory Bright !
Reveals His most Beautiful Ray of Light !
Which, penetrating thro’ my frame, makes me all Light !
Understanding that the Ray Divine !
Has entered, giving me Love Divine,
There comes a voice, assuring a Life Divine,
There comes a voice, assuring a Life Divine,
In the stillness of my heart, an answer to the Cry Divine,
Lo, The still cry is stilled !
But, it is not really stilled !
For, the Still Cry (of sorrow) is transformed into a Still Cry (of Joy)
Due to Ecstasy in explicable, enjoyed in the realms if Silence.
S.SWAMINATHAN, STENOGRAPHER, NEW DELHI.
Samata of equal vision
Vairag or dispassion
Bhakti or devotion.
This is Thy message, O Sai !
We shall repeat SAI RAM
With our loving pranam;
Let us by japa of Thy Mantra
Win the war waged on Maya.
Thou art a Satguru,
Thou art my real Prabhu.
My sole refuge is in Thee.
Thou showed the form of Rama
And of my beloved Krishna too!
Thou art Adiguru Siva
Naisthik Brhamchari Maruthi too!
I always live in Thee, O Sai !
And Thou livest at in my heart too.
My body is the real Shirdi;
My heart is “ Dwaraka Mayee”,
When will I real nature?
Lead us on, O Sai !
In the path of Brahama-Gyan.
BY SRI SWAMI KAMALANANDJI, NEPAL.
Meditation is the only real, royal road to the attainment of salvation. Meditation kills pain, sufferings and sorrows. Meditation destroys all causes of sorrow. Meditation gives vision of unity. Meditation induces sense of Oneness. Meditation is a balloon or parachute or the aeroplane that helps the aspirant to sour high into the realms of bliss, everlasting peace and undying joy.
Reality or Brahma can be realised by man. Many have
attained self-realization. Many have realised the nirvikalpa samadhi: Sri
Sankara, Sri Dattatreya, Mansoor, Shams I Sabuz, Lord Jesus, Lord Budha and Sri
Sai Baba Maharaj of Shirdi were all realised souls who had direct perceptions
of the Truth or Cosmic Vision or Aparoksha- anubhuti. But one who has known cannot communicate it to others for want of
means. Even the knowledge acquired by the five senses which are common to all
cannot be communicated to others; You cannot tell the taste of sugar-candy to a
man who has never tasted it; you cannot communicate the idea of colour to one
born blind. All that the teacher can do is tell his disciple the method of
knowing the Truth or the path that leads to the unfoldment of intutional
faculty. Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi is the concrete embodiment of the Vedanta
Truth. Because in his life he manifested in full, all the subtle truths that we
read in the Vedanta Philosophy. Pray for unflinching love and devotion and you
will have everything.
Sow. S.p. Devakiammal, Palayamcottah (Palamcotaa Govt. Training School for mistress) says: -
I have been a devotee of Sai for 16 months and visited Shirdi in June. Lalitha aged 8; my only daughter was suddenly missed from my house at Palayamacotta on Sept. 11th 1943. I informed Police and all. I prayed to Baba. I wired to Shirdi and sent Rs.3 M.O. I got back Udhi and a hopeful letter received on Mahalaya Amavasya stating that my child was at my home only. My house belonged to one and his wife. They were requested to deliver back my child. The professed to know nothing. Police however discovery. Baba gave me assurance in my dream that my child was safe with my landlord who has Sai Pictures.
I went to the landlord and asked him to swear on Baba’s udhi that the child was not with him. He evaded. I went to sleep. Baba in my dream mentioned name and asked me to take a knife with me and threaten to commit suicide with it, if the child be not restored. I went to the guilty person and threatened to commit suicide, if the child be not promptly restored. He was at that time having bloody motions. He told me that he heard Baba’s voice saying “Restore Child”. He extorted from me a promise of secrecy and the his wife took me to Kadambur and showed me the child. I got the child. He had complained of the kidnapping and though the child’s jewels had however been taken away by Baba’s order. I withdraw the complaint. That child had vision of Baba when she was wrongly confined, wherein he fed her. WE are both staunch worshipers of Baa and are often getting his help. One instance of his help was on my present journey. With a view to see the Educational authorities regarding my posting or transfer, I purchased a 3rd class ticket from Egmore. That was lost when I had traveled most of the way – I discovered its loss when a Ticket Examiner asked for it. When I was unable to produce it, he ordered me to alight. I wished to buy a ticket to Egmore. He objected and wanted me to pay double fare for the journey Viz., Rs.16. I had not money enough for that, I asked him to send me to Egmore and collect the money there. He gruffly refused. The train by which I travelled I was bewildered. I addressed Baba and said, “ You served that lady who had fallen down from the train. But here your strand me ! What trouble are you putting me to?” A huge figure came down walking the platform. He said to me “ I think I know you. Where are you?” Then I told him that I was a schoolmistress at Madras formerly and then narrated to him the vicissitudes of fortune or misfortune that overtook me and how BAA had helped. His heart was moved. He went and told the Ticket Examiner that he knew me and that I must be helped out of my difficulty. By his kindness, though I was unable to pay anything. I was sent to Madras by the next available train without any loss or molestation. Baba appeared to me when I asked him about my difficulties, he laughed and showed me a very old man’s figure and said that, that person would advise and help me. That figure was then unknown to me. But when I went to 30, N.V.Chetty Street Triplicane, I found his picture there and learnt it was the President, A.I.Samaj. Accordingly I went to A.I.S.S. and got the President’s advice and help.
Convulsions cured my eldest daughter was in her husband’s home for her second delivery which took place on Wednesday, 22-12-43 at Velumany, Trichy District. Parents were not informed about the same due to some petty misunderstandings. The first information they got on 3rd January 1944 only through a third person that the newborn baby died and the mother’s condition critical at 7 P.M. immediately the parents hurried to the village and were able to see the patient with some difficulty at 1 P.M.
At that time the patient was not able to see from the previous morning and having virulent fits every ten minutes. Even liquid diet was impossibility. Best medical and Manthric aid sought with no tangible effect except in to take the patient to Tanjore and accompanied her.
Under Baba’s command and guidance they reached Sai Mandir at 6 P.M. on 13-1-44. Local medical aid sought.
Before any medicine was applied the patient regained her sight by one O’ clock the same day and fits subsided to the joy of her parents and satisfaction of her husband who accompanied her. Thus harmony was restored.
All Glory to Sri Sai Ram.
– T.S.Venkatramier, Sai Mandir, V.P. Koil Street, Tanjore – 15-1-44
Sri Pancharatnam Naidu, 154, Lansdowne Road, Calcutta Says: -
I got my first idea of Sri Sai Baa from Mr.S.P.R.Naidu one year and a halfback. We lost silver –feeder. We searched and searched and could not fine it. As we could not get on without it, we prayed to BABA and in a minute or tow thereafter we could see to plainly lying under a table very near to us. If it was there all along, we could not have possibly missed it. This incident was a great rouser of faith.
A month or so later, while I was experimenting on an instrument, it suddenly burnt out and became perfectly worthless. It was however very important and there was no chance of replacing it or repairing it in present day war conditions. WE were all sorely vexed at it and I above all others was most obtained or repaired. Strangely enough and most unexpectedly, a dealer came to me dealing in such goods. After examining the burnt out part, he declared that it was impossible to repair or replace it. At last a thought struck him that he should go and search in his shop. I clutched at it as the last way of hope. He went and searched and at last one bit corresponding to that burnt out part was discovered. There was no other such part available in any part of India. We took the part and found it fitted exactly, to our very great surprise. Baba’s help was of immense help to me.
Six months later, there was an experience, which my wife will recite better than I, for I was laid up with fever, which very threatened to be very serious.
About a year back, I was at Nagalur in my own house. I did not then know that my husband was ill. I had a vision in my dream where in I saw my husband lying down with illness and Baba appearing at the threshold of the house. He said, “ Your husband is unwell. Don’t you worry about it. I am here. Don’t fear. Later in the day, I received a letter from my father at Madras that my husband had been ill at Calcutta and had arrived at Madras for recouping his health. Shortly thereafter my husband recovered his health. Every bit of what Baba said turned out true. My husband and myself were at Pallayaram later. I then saw Baba there at 6 P.M. while I was fully awake. Baba extended his hand and raised and lowered it, towards me as a sign of his protection. We are all being protected by him.
I have always been feeling grateful to the Lord Sai for the kind protection accorded to me from the time I pinned my faith in Him and received the timely mercy and help in my life when I was feeling despondent in 1940.
The under mentioned unexpected experience of help has strengthened my faith and prompted me to give the benefit if the readers of ‘ Sai Sudha’ that the Lord is ever watchful the welfare of His devotees.
On 10-1-44, I was required to be the Chittivalasa Jute Mills at 9 A.M. on 11-1-44 to meet the Collector who programmed to visit the Mills. In spite of my early attempts to start in time with my own conveyance. I in advertantly sent away my driver for food thinking that there was yet time. On referring to my watch a little later, there was only 20 minutes. I then started in despair at Bimilipatnam to catch even any bus but in vain. The distance to the place of my destination is 3 miles even to hasten by foot. I was feeling uneasy and praying Baba, just as I was proceeding farther a Jutka came in front of me as if it was going in he direction opposite to mine. On asking the jutka man if he would take me to Chittivalasa he agreed that though he had some other work, he would hire it for me. I took it and reached Chittivalasa in time. The readers will thus understand how the Lord has been watching us. What is needed of us is that our faith should e implicit, innocent and motiveless. The Lord who knows better will do whatever we deserve and be beneficial to us both from mundane and spiritual stand points- May my brother devotees note my humble experience for their information.
Propaganda
Sri Kesaviah In Ahamadnagar
Under the auspices of the Ahamadnagar District Sai Seva Mandal a public lecture in English was delivered by Sri Kesaviah, Sub-Registrar Penukonda, in the Ahmednagar Municipal Hall, on 1st January 1944, before a large gathering of over 300 persons, under the presence of the president ship of Mr.V.B.Raju, I.C.S. District and Sessions Judge. Mr.B.V.Najeswar, L.L.B. First Class Subordinate Judge, in introducing the lecturer, referred to his marvelous powers attained by the grace of Sri Sai Baa and his great work for the last 4 years in spreading the gospel of the Great Saint and awakening the people of their materialistic stupor. Sri Kesavaiah, in his lecture, dwelt on the teachings and greatness of Sai Baba, narrated his own thrilling experiences and impressed in firm accents that to attain spiritual salvation and to escape from wordly worries one must live up to the laws of God and be honest, humble and charitable and place unadulterated unflinching faith in his Guru. The president in his closing speech said that he considered himself blessed by reason of his transfer to Ahmednagar District, home of great Saints, and that there can be no doubt that Sai Baba was an Avatar. The meetings terminated after vote of thanks by Kanavade, L.L.B, pleader and garlanding by Rao Bahudur N.E.Navale, LL.B, and Public Prosecutor and Government Pleader.
1. Pooja on 13-1-44 in the residence of Mr.C.V.Rajan and 2. 14-1-44 in Mr.R.V.Nathan’s house, Triplicane. 3. 16-1-44, Night Pooja, Distribution of Prasadam Thirtham and Advising the Bhaktas who sought relief individualyy.4. At the residence of Rao Bahadur P.S.Gnana Sundaram Secretary P.S.Commision.
Prasad was distributed to the congregation.
Sri Sai Baba’s Uthsva on 6-1-44
1.Pooj in Sai Baba Nivas of K.Satagopan,.2. In Sai Mandir, donors were: -
1.Mr.David, (a Christian), 2. Sri Narayanaswamy Pillai, 3.P. Ramanujam,
4. S.Rajagopalan, 5. Neelakanta Iyer, 6.K.Raghava, 7. Sreenivasan.
Sri Sai Baba’s celebrations on 14-1-44
I.. Morning – Sai Sahasranama Abhishekam and Archanal; and evening Bhajana and Prasadam.
II. Baba’s pooja in the morning and evening and Nathaswara Kacheri Bhajan and Prasad in the Night in the Sai Mandir.
BEZWADA
At a meeting of Sai Bhakthas held at the Theosophical Lodge, Bezwada on 28th November 1943 under the president ship of Sri T.Venkajee it was resolved to accept the donation of 500 sq.yds. of land by Srimathi Damaraju Lakshmamma of Bezwada for the purpose of constructing a building for Sai Baba Mandir and the following gentlemen have been included in the working committee for Building – President and Treasurer. Sri Majeti Rammohana Rao, Merchant and Banker, Bezwada. Vice Presidents- 1.Medchal Chinna Rangappa Chetty, Banker. Adoni, 2. Kakumani Virarahmayya Chetty, Banker, Kandukur, 3. Tekumalla Venkajee, Govt.Paper specialist, Madras.C.Rao Bahadur Alapati Kutumba Rao, Banker, Bezwada, 5. Chunduri Venkata Reddy, B.A, Banker, Bezwada, 6. Srimathi Padurthi Sundaramma, Ex. Municipal Councilor, 7. Srimathi Damaraju Lakshmamma, Bezwada Secretaries- 1. Sri Annavarapu Subba Rao Gupta, Editor, Bharatiya, Vysya, Bezwada, 2. Subrahmanyam, Masulipatnam with eight members.
It is expected that the foundation stone will e laid for the building on Sudha Panchami in Marga 30th January, 1944. All Bhaktas are requested to contribute their mite towards the completion of this Mandir in the central place in Andhra Desa. All communications and remittances should be sent to the Secretary A.Subba Rao Gupta, Bezwada.
Sri Sai Bhakta Mandali Kaikalur, Krishna District
There are many workmen belonging to the M.S.M.Rly Company at, Kaikalur who are devotees of Sri Sai Baba. Sai Propaganda in explaining to the people the strength of the Mandali here.
(a) Poor feeding – The members of this Mandali fed about 450 poor people on 7-1-44. There was a big procession in the town with the picture of Sri Sai Baba. The discipline made an extensive propaganda explaining to the people the greatness of Sai Baa.
(b) Harikatha- There was a big meeting at 6 P.M. on 8-1-44. Sri Kommu Satyanarayana Bhagavathar gave Hari Katha Kalakshepam and the History of Sri Sai Baba. The meeting consisted of many learned men and officers of the place.
(c) Lectures-
After Harikatha Kalakshepam: -
1. Sri Viwan Nandala Subbaraya Sarma, Chief pandit of the High School, 2. Sri Parmi Subrahmanya Sastri, and 3. Sri Musti Venkata Subba Rao teachers in the High School gave elaborate lectures on the greatness of Sri Sai Baa.
(d) Helpers – Sri Govinda Rajulu Naidu and Sri U.Kuppusami Naidu are to be whole-heartedly thanked for the encouragement they gave to make the above function successful.
Kaikalur, Sri Sai Bhakta Mandali
9-1-44 V.Venkateswara Rao
Propaganda
By B.V.N.Swami
2-1-44, B.V.N.Swami at 10 A.M. laid the foundation stone of the Naga Sai Temple at Ramalingeswarapuram on the Mettupaliem Road and delivered a speech.(For further details see Coimbatore news). In the evening he addressed a meeting in the New Hall to which Sai Baba’s Portrait has been removed. (Balalya Pratishta).
19-1-44 - Swmy’s lecture at Mr.Raghupat’s house.
Announcement had been made that Sri B.V.N.Swami health has been so badly impaired by overstrain etc., that it is doubtful if he can complete the tour announced in the January issue. Even if he does, it is more that doubtful if any more os such tours are possible for him.
So devotees concerned with these tours are requested to so arrange their proposed programmes as to avoid entailing unnecessary strain on the Swami. He must retire by 8-30 P.M. from all work and if possible from all company and have quite place to secure some sleep. No work should be arranged so as to compel him to have late meals. Late meals especially if heavy or trying imperil his usefulness at least for the day. Bus and Cart Journeys have to be avoided as a rule. Night Journeys by rail have to be avoided wherever possible.
The Programme published in the last issue has been modified after consulting devotees in various places. Saringapatnam Manaya, Closepet, Chennapatnam, Devangere, Haihar, Erraguntla, Prodattur, and Kalamapuram, have been dropped on account of plague or absence of devotees to organize meetings or Poojas there at the time mentioned.
Perhaps it might be better to end this trip by 27th February and fix up the other places to some later dates towards the end of March to avoid overstrain.
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