(To Glimpses
of Sai Baba by B.V.N.Swami)
BY
JUSTICE
DEWAN BAHADUR C.N.KUPPUSWAMY IYER,
B.A.M.L.
Judge of
the High Court of Judicature, Madras.
To so
assimilate spiritual truths and ideas as to make them one’s own, it is
imperative to have direct personal contact with a spirituality-evolved soul, is
one of the fundamental traditional beliefs in India. Authoritative Sastraic
text-books on bhakti jnana and karma are available in plenty, and there are
also innumerable clear and analytical commentaries to make one intellectually
perceive what is stated in them. But, they by themselves would not be enough. A
direct contact with a highly evolved person is an indispensable necessity for
one’s assimilating the truths stated in them. It was in the courses of his wanderings
in quest of a Samantha Guru, started even when he was in his teens, that
Brahma. Sri B.V.Narasimhaswami came in contact with, Sri Upasani Baba. From
him, he came to know about Sri Sai Baba. Once he came to know about him, he set
out on his task to contact him with all the sincerity, earnestness, and
assiduity the Swamiji could command, till he actually felt he had found his
real Guru and that he had got into touch with him. It is to this unique good
fortune; we of the south owe our knowledge of, and devotion to Baba. With his
instinctive generosity and ever- gushing love for humanity, the Swamiji was not
satisfied with his enjoying alone the Bliss of Sai. He longed to share it with
all humanity, and it was found his full joy. Hardly have ten years passed since
the Swamiji enlightened the public of South India about the life and greatness
of Baba, and to-day, Baba’s devotees in the South could be counted in lakhs,
drawn from all classes and spread all over the country. To a book by the Swamiji on Baba, no
foreword is necessary. My only justification for writing these few lines is the
command of the Swamiji.
“GLIMPSES OF SAI BABA” I
consider, is the copingstone to the edifice, which the Swamiji has been
building ever since he wrote his first book on Baba. He started by drawing the
attention of the people to the fact that there lived a saintly person in Sai
Baba at Shirdi, and gave a sketch of his life emphasising the noteworthy events
in it indicative of his greatness and his saintly virtues. Unfortunately, Baba
had shed his mortal coil even before the Swamiji came to know about him. But,
nevertheless, the Swamiji began to experience his personal individual contact
with Baba, and then he marveled, and was overjoyed at the great help that even
after his death, Baba was able to render to humanity. He accordingly began his
collection of full conversations which he had had with his disciples and
others, who came in contact with him during his lifetime. He was also able to
gather materials indicating how Baba, even after his death, had been able to
make his presence felt by his devotees and how he was helping and guiding them.
To gather such information was an arduous and troublesome task. Undaunted by
difficulties and hardships which the Swamiji had to undergo, he travelled to
various distant places, interviewed the available devotees, gathered
information, sifted it, and published his book on the Experiences of Devotees
of Sai Baba. As stated by Bhagavan Sri Krishna in the Gita, it is not only the
jnani, who has a craving for divine knowledge as such, but also those in
trouble and those who seek temporal prosperity that look to God for help and
approach him. Naturally, most of the experiences of the devotees related to
their approach to Baba when they had temporal difficulties and sought for
prosperity in worldly life. The publication of such experiences created a wrong
impression in the mind of some that Baba was only a Siddha Purusha endowed with
occult powers, gathered all the facts relating to the experiences of Baba’s
devotees, the Swamiji is now able to point out that Baba was not merely helping
those that approached him with regard to their temporal needs but was also,
even when he was helping them in such matters, mindful of the need for helping
such souls in the progress of their voyage through life to reach that Great
final Goal to which, one day or other, all hope and strive to reach. Baba, the
Samartha Sadguru as he was, was not unmindful of that Goal. In the “ Glimpses
of Sai Baba,” the Swamiji has brought out how in every one of his actions and
dealings towards his devotees, he was always having prominently in his mind the
spiritual welfare of those devotees and was at each stage attending to their
progress towards the Great Goal. Baba was often talking in parables, and it
would be difficult for a layman unacquainted with the mentality of Baba and the
actual facts of each case to accurately understand the inner idea behind what
he did and said. About the help rendered by him for the spiritual welfare of the
devotees, it is only a great Bhakta like the Swamiji who has such intense,
ardent faith in Baba as an Incarnation of God Himself that would be able to
understand and explain it. In this latest work of the Swamiji, he has been able
to throw a flood of light on the inner meanings of such sayings and the
significance of the doings of Baba.
That Baba
was an incarnation of God is fully brought out in this book. As stated by
Bhagwan Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, another incarnation of God unless the man
is totally free from ‘ woman and gold’ All cannot recognize an Incarnation of
God; some take him for an ordinary man, some for a holy person, but only a few
recognize him as an Incarnation.” Who else but a devotee like the Swamiji, the
very embodiment of vairagya, could recognize that Baba was an incarnation of
God? The omniscience and omnipotence of Baba have been illustrated by a number
of instances referred to by the Swamiji. That Baba took upon himself the task
of guiding in varied births the good souls that came in progress even when he
was at a distance has also been illustrated. Attracted by his irresistible
magnetic spiritual power, there flocked to
Sai Baba people of all classes, - young and old, literate and illiterate,
men and women, scoffers, doubters, as well as the conservatively orthodox
Sanatanists. Once, they contacted the radiation of his spirit, they felt
uplifted. There were no barriers of race, colour, age, creed or sex to his
love. To all who sought his counsel and blessing, he gave readily without
stint. No one was small, or anyone great in his eyes. To all, he had the same
universal love, the love which he or she was when coming to Baba. His method of
dealing with devotees was varied. Some he protected just as the mother-cat its
kitten; some devotees clung to him like a young monkey to its mother. He was
able to deal with other devotees at a
distance by his mere thought, just as the mother tortoise attends to its young
ones on the shore merely by throwing its glance on them. The method of his
approach to wards his disciples and the manner of his help was such that no
one, to whatever religion he belonged, could take exception. He wanted each to
stick on the traditions and tenets of the religion in which God had placed him.
That all the different paths led to the same goal was emphasized by him. All
these have been so beautifully, clearly, analytically and emphatically brought
out by the Swamiji in this, his latest work, that I do not think it is possible
to discharge our deep debt of gratitude to the Swamiji for the manner and the
spirit with which he has been able to present to us and make us understand and
feel the latest known Incarnation of God in sri Sai Baba of Shirdi.
BY
SRI
SIVANANDASWAMI TO CALCUTTA SAI SAMAJ
Blessed
Nectar’s Sons.
It is with immense pleasure that I am sending you the following short message for the memorable occasion of the Mahasamadhi Anniversary of the revered Saint Sri Sai Baba. May He shower His blessings on all devotees, in this very life.
Pooja is
the common term for right ritual worship of which there are numerous synonyms
such as Archana, Vandana, Bhajana etc., though some of these stress certain
aspects of it. The object or worship is the Ishta Devata or guiding deity or
the particular form of the Deity whom the devotee worships such as Vishnu as
such or in his forms as Rama and Krishna in the case of Vaishnavites, Shiva in
the eight forms in case of Shaivites, Devi in the case of Shaktas.
An object
is used in the outer Pooja such as an image (Pratima), a picture or an emblem
such as Shaligram in case of Vishnu worship or Linga in the case of worship of
Siva.
By doing
Pooja the aspirant gradually begins to feel that the Lord he worships in the
idol is in the hearts of all creatures, and in all the names and forms of this
universe. He begins to feel His presence everywhere.
The
devotee superimposes on the concrete idol, the Lord and His attributes. He does
Shodasopachar for the idol, the sixteen kinds of paying respects or service to
the Lord such as Padyam (water for washing the feet), Arghyam, Asana (seat),
Snana (bathing) offering clothing, applying sandal paste, offering flowers
burning incense waving of light and camphor, Maha Nivedyam etc. The wandering
mind is fixed now in this form of worship. The aspirant gradually feels the
nearness of the Lord. He attains purity of heart and slowly annihilates his
egoism.
Even in
worshiping a small idol he has repeat the Purusha-Sukta and to think of the
virat Purusha with countless heads, countless eyes, countless hands who extends
beyond the universe also and of the Lord who dwells in the hearts of all
beings.
The
aspirant who worships the idol in the beginning beholds the Lord everywhere and
develops Para Bhakti. From Vidhi Bhakti he passes on to Ragatmika Bhakti or
Prem Bhakti. He beholds the whole world as the Lord. The ideas of good and bad,
right and wrong etc, etc., vanish. He sees the lord in a rogue, dacoit, cobra,
scorpion, ant, dog, tree, log of wood, and block of stone, sun, moon, stars,
fire, water, earth etc,. His vision or experience baffles description. Glory to
such exalted Bhaktas who are veritable Gods on earth, who live to lift others
from the quagmire of Samsara and save them from the clutches of death.
Just as
the worship of the Lord emancipates man, even so the worship of great Saints
too bestows upon the worshipper all blessings and frees him from the shackles
of Samsaric Bondage. The Lord fully manifest in his benign aspect in the Saint.
Sri Sainath is such a personification
of the compassion of the Almighty and specially lived and lives to help, to
relive, to aid, to guide, elevate and save.
In this
age, when restlessness and misery is everywhere and man is swept along by the
rushing tides of grief, sorrow loss, pain, disappointment and calamities. Sai
Bhajan is a sure life-line that lifts one to the safe haven of Sai’s
protection.
The
redeeming Grace of Sai is the armour that Sai Bhajan obtains for the true
devotee of Sai, an armour that is a sure protection in these critical times.
Another
singular value Sai worship has for our times is the universality and
brotherhood it engenders. Sai is for the whole world. He had transcended all
narrow communal and racial barriers and embraced all in the love of his broad
heart. He was a marvelous ideal of
inter communal unity and amity. His worship therefore brings all people
together to a common altar, erases all difference and forges sweet bonds of
affection and understanding mutual love and tolerance.
Now at a
time when everywhere men show a contempt and disregard to sacred observances
and ancient traditions. Sai Baba, who thought informal and unconventional, yet
showed in himself a great reverence to all orthodox and holy customs inspires
his worshippers also to keep the spirit of the past intact and to reverence all
time-bounced modes of conduct. Thus Sai bhajan guards the Bhakta from
skepticism and agnosticism in any form whatsoever.
BY
SRI SWAMI
RAJESWARANANDA
FOUNDER-PRESIDENT,
UPANISAD VIHAR, KAILASAGIRI, KALAHASTI.
Bhagavan Sri Krishna gave His Gita the Song Celestial to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra in India and through Arjuna to the world.
Mahabharata
is he source of the Gita. It is the greatest scripture. It is as epitome of the
universe.
Gita is
the crest-jewel of Mahabharata. Krishna Himself is the key to the Gita. And the
Gita is the key to the world-culture. It is the Bible of humanity. It is an
Upanishad, the light of wisdom. It is Brahma-Vidya, the science of the Self
Supreme. It is Yoga-sastra, the gospel of spiritual life. It is a dialogue
between Krishna and Arjuna (Narayana and Nara). It reveals God to man and makes
life sweet and simple. Break the finite structure of individual consciousness
of Arjuna, there is Krishna Himself. Bhagavan Sri Krishna is the common centre
of all radii of the individual souls. Sri Krishna is the common Heaven on earth
and the Kingdom of God in the soul of man, irrespective of caste, color,
community, country and sex. Gita is all-round in its teachings as a beacon
light to lift man from his lower levels in all walks of life. Sri Krishna is a
world-teacher (jagad guru). He is the soul of the universe, the source of
divine inspiration and spiritual illumination.
Though
Gita speaks of loksangraha as a gospel of selfless service with the welfare of
the world in his its head realisation of Godhead is in its heart. Hence it does
not place humanity above divinity, nor any substitute. Manavaseva is not
Madhavaseva in the Gita whereas the very reserve is its theme. It is the divine
man who can do solid service to human beings. Realisation and expression of the
Divine is the goal of life, the destination in the pilgrimage of the soul.
Duty for
duty’s sake, mere social service, philanthropic activities, lip, sympathy and
the like crib and circumscribe the universal Gospel of the Gita Manifestation
of Selfhood and not worship of society is its watchword.
The
Gita-gospel man to order his life practicality and discover his svadharma to
develop along his own lines best suited to his soil and thus discharge it
accordingly. Svadharma is svabhava in
being true to one’s True Self and sahaja in expressing one’s own True self. It
has royal divinity and divine royalty, embodying eternal perfection
(sasvatha-dharma). It fulfils the mission of life, , playing in true with the
divine Flute and thus transforms the mortal mystical music of the Divine, since the soul of the whole is
in every one, black or brown, white or yellow.
BY
P.RAJAGOPAL
STATION MASTER,
MAMANDUR.
(1) My niece,
Shanbagam (wife of Sri B.V.Parthasarathy Iyengar, P.W.D.Contracter) was
suffering from Typhoid which turned recently into Pneumonia. She was attended
on by Dr. Srinivasan.R, M.B.B.S., Salem. Mr.Parthasarathy Iyengar was worried
very much about his wife’s sickness. He approached Sai Baba’s pictures,
appealed to Baba to save his beloved wife and told Baba in range and despair
that he would give up his faith in Baba if no help is given immediately. Baba
appeared in patient’s dream and promised to save her from all difficulties.
Subsequently, she got improved. She is all right now.
(2) My son
Sundaram, aged 2 1/2years, suddenly had fits on 9-9-’44 at 4-30P.M.when he went
home for tea. My wife sent word to me about the incident and unconscious low
state of child; I went home and found the child drooping as though it was abut
to die. We gave up our hope. I took Baba’s udi and applied all over the body,
The boy regained consciousness within 30 minutes and he was alright by the
following morning
Statement of Sri Sankar Rao, D. Balvalli, Vakola, Santacruz, P.O.,
Bombay.
I was not
a Bhaktha of Baba till recently. I had and have my Guru Brahmananda Saraswati
(whose life sketch is found in the number of Kalyan kalpataru) and my Istha
Devata Datta. My attention to Sai Baba was drawn notably by my sister
requesting me to escort her to Shirdi in 1936. I first declined. Then in a few
hours as I gazed on the figure of Datta at worship, it changed to Baba’s
figure. I cleared it and again at it. Again it was transformed. This was done
thrice. I had not seen Baba’s figure and so I did not recognize it at the above
transformation till I went to Dr.Thakkar’s place and found there the figure at
my pooja. I inquired and learnt that it was Sai Baba. So I changed my mind
regarding the escorting of my sister. I went and told her I would escort her to
Shirdi. Again and again I visited Shirdi. Sai Baba’s pull was so great that in
6 months I came here nine times. I came and read Sapthaha of Guru Charitra.
After doing that, I slept in front of the Samadhi Mandir, i.e. in the front
verandah. At midnight, I heard the footfall of shod person. I woke and found it
was Baba walking on to my bedside, standing and gazing at me. He had come from
the Dwaraka Mayi side. I was captured by his wonderful love and power in 1936.
I had not seen him in the flesh. Recently I consented to be on the executive
committee. Suddenly, by Baba’s order Mr.Kharkar resigned by Baba’s will I had
to take up this Secretary hip, though I have other honorary but exacting duties
in a Bombay Bank etc.,
11. An old
Madrasi lady of 60 years was here on the 4th day of Punyatithi of 1943. Her son
had been appointed for her service. In
great agony of soul she resolved to seek Baba’s help. She went to a Railway
booking clerk and demanded a ticket for Shirdi, in ignorance if the fact that
Shirdi is not on the Railway line. The booking clerk a Sai Bhakta then gave her
a ticket to Kopergaon. Without knowing any language but Tamil, she arrived here
and occupied a room next to the Samadhi. At 8 P.M. in the dark, she moved on,
not knowing that the steps behind the Samadhi had no parapet wall, at that
time. She fell down on the stone pavement near the well. She was badly bruised.
Her knees and forehead were bleeding. She ran up to me and told me in Tamil
that “She fell down from the steps” I offered to send for tincture iodine. She
said “No”. She added that when she fell in the dark, a male with a lit lantern
stood by her side and gently passed his hands over the hurt body. She looked up
and saw it was Sri Sai Baba himself. He told her that she would be alright. She
felt no pain and went to bed. Next morning, she declared that Baba had appeared
to her sleep and assured her that he would take every care of her boy and that
she need not entertain any fears.
(N.B. On
enquiry we find this lady is Kamal Ammal of Matunga)
VAyalpad.
B.S.N. Sarma, the P.Master who stirred up to Sai Bhakti at Punganur is now P.M.
at Vayalpad and is continuing his vigorous Prachara. On 24-11-44 Sri Buchiah
Sastriar, Sheristadar, conducted, along with other devotees a grand procession
of Sayi’s image with the Music of a Band and the recital of Namasankirtan,
Crowds attended. Weekly Sai Bhajana is at Buchia Sastriar.
Coimbatore:
A very useful extension of Sai’ service is being started here. A Sai Mission is
now organized which in the first instance will attend to the Coimbatore town
and District. Schools, especially girl’s schools on an humble scale, will be
started. If the necessary set of matrons, teachers are available; work will
start in one month. This Mission will closely follow Ramakrishna Mission Work.
All those who wish to encourage this
effort may communicate with Sri A.V.K.Chari, Sai Samaj, Lawley Road
P.O., Coimbatore.
Banagalore
notes: Tiruvalur Natesa Bhagavatar now residing at Ponneri gave his Sai
Harikathas at (1) Cox Town, Mr.Seshachala Mudaliar’s on 8-11-1944; (2)
Malleswara 19-11-44 at Mr.Ramachandrier’s (when Sri S.B.Kesavaiah also
addressed the audience; (3) Banagalore High school on 23rd; (4)
Cantonment, Annavasanty Sangam, on 24th, at the instance of the
Cantonment Sai Samaj secretary Sri R.S. Raghavan, (5) Basavangudi, on 30th,
at the Sai Mandir of Sri L.S.Raju, M.L.C.
Madras
Notes: Sri Krishna Bhagavathar has amongst his other Kathas delivered Sai Katha
at Triplicane Panduranga Mandir on 8-12-1911. Bhajan, Kummi and Kolattam of Sai
songs by girls with Sai Pooja took place on 22-12-44 at Mrs.S.N.Sastriar.
(a) SANKRANTHI
13-1-1945. (b) PONGAL 14-1-1945
Sankranti
is a especially holy day for those who seek the guru’s spiritual help. Intense
prayer, meditation, group study, Pothi-Parayana of Sai Manana. Baba’s charters,
Anna Sahib Dabolkar’s Sai Satcharitra etc., with Sai Sahasranamarchana is
recommended to all devotees and especially to all Sai Mandirs and Sri Samajas
(whether affiliated or not). Prayers after very intense emotion or
concentration produce perceptible results especially on such holy days.
Pongal:
Poor feeding or feeding of Bhaktas is appropriate for the joyous celebration of
the Pongal. Pongal is the result of a
rich harvest. Those whom Providence blessed with a rich harvest now will do
well to set apart an appreciable portion to aid Sai Mandirs in their own place,
the Sai Mandir of the A.I.S.S.at
Mylapore and above all the mother Mandir at Shirdi.
Sailu. 20-11-44.SHIRIDI
21&22-11-44.
Poona. 23-11-44,
Lecture at (Reddiers) Bhajan Mandir; 24th Lecture at Saraswathi
Vidyalaya; 25th same place (to ladies); 26th Lecture at
Yagnyavalkya Asram.
Bombay. 28th
Lecture at Rukmani Bhavan; 29th Lecture at S .S. President’s (Sri
M.D. kobal’s); 30th Lecture at Gamdevi “Bombay Spiritual Centre”,
and lecture to ladies at Rukmani Bhavan, Matunga.
Madras: Red Hills. 10-12-44.ZB. V.
N. S. opened Sai’s Mandir at Naravarikuppam Sai Samaj. Sow. Yethirajammal and
her Bhajan and Kolatam set took part. Procession of a gaily decked picture of
Sai’s Palanquin was taken round the streets at night-with special Nayanam and
other music and lights.
All -India
Sai Samaj News and Notes. Annual meeting held 17-12-44.
a) Annual
report and audited annual accounts adopted, (b) Following office bearers were
elected :-( c) President. B.V.N. Swami (2to5) Vice- Presidents Sri P. Panini
Rao; A.K.Ramachandrier; C.V. Rajan; K.N. Chawdhary (6to 8)Joint Secretaries
A.S. Subramanian, V.S. Iyer; Mrs.S.N.Sastri (9-17) Managing Committee M.S.
Rajgopalan, O.K. Varada Rao, M.C. Purushothama Rao; S. Panchhapagesier;
R.A.Iyer; V.V.Rao; T. Gopala Mudaliar; K. Radhakistnan. Mofussil Members
(18-24) Sri S.B. Kesviah; Dawan bashadur k. Sundaram Chettiar; A.L. Kannappa
Chettiar; Mrs. (Dr.) D. V. Ramanamma; Sri M.D. Kobal; P. Gopalsamier;
N.Subramaniyam.
(To Sri
Narasimhadasa’s Sai Drama)
The best
means for enabling the mass in this country to understand Sai Baba and absorb
his devotion is to present Sai History and teachings on the stage. Few care to
study books, but even the illiterate and children enjoy seeing a drama; and
what they see impresses them more powerfully than what they hear read.
Therefore, it is very great service to the cause that the All India Sai Samaj
has at heart that Sri Narasimhadasan has rendered in presenting Sai’s history
and teachings in a very dramatic form here. Sri Narasimhadasan is a highly
cultured gentleman with occidental and oriental education and has a great deal
of experience in histrionic art and in production of histrionic literature. The
style is chaste and forcible. The ideas presented are lofty. There is
absolutely nothing unworthy of highest Sai Bhakthi in this production. And it
faithfully depicts facts and introduces no unnecessary fiction. Moreover, Sri
Narasimhadasan is not prompted by low or even earthy motive in rendering Sai
Service. He does not want fame and hence he keeps his name secret and merely
makes an arpanam of the drama at the feet of Sai. He does not want any
remuneration and ha therefore allowed this publication “without rights
reserved’. He wants on the other hand every body everywhere who can help in
staging it, to do so, without any necessity of applying for permission to the
author or even intimating him. No royalty at all has to be paid to the author
or to the All India Sai Samaj who are publishing this drama. The wish of both
is that Sai’s fame and Sai Bhakthi should by this means, cover the Tamil
knowing areas with great rapidity; and hence the book is sold at cost price
almost practically without any profit.
The author
deserves well of Sri Sai and the public. Sri Sai has already placed him above
want and in a comfortable position.
May Sri
Sai Baba increase his devotion and other spiritual attainments and shower upon
him blessings temporal and spiritual.
B.V.NARASIMHASWAMI.