Saipadananda
(Quarterly Magazine)
Universal Prayer
May the wicked turn good;
May the good attain peace;
May the peaceful be freed from all bondage and
May the liberated redeem others.
May everybody be happy;
May everybody be free from disease;
May everybody have good luck;
May none fall on evil days.
May everybody surmount difficulties;
May everybody have good fortune;
May everybody realise his ambitions;
May everybody rejoice everywhere.
- Sri Saipadananda Radhakrishna Swamiji
A Thought
To leave everything to Him and to depend upon
Him at all times is the secret of true peace.
- Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji
CONTENTS
1- Editorial (Sai Baba -
Ever Living)
5- Concept of Shiva
& Vishnu Sahasranama
6. Gospel
of Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji
7. Serious
Head injury averted
8. Sai Baba speaks to you directly
10. Value
of Namasmarana
Sai Baba - Ever Living
As we approach the celebration of
'Mahasamadhi' of Sai Baba, one subject is uppermost in our minds - Sai Baba is
living and active even after His Mahasamadhi in 1918. Too many people life
after death remain an insoluble mystery. It is far too awesome for them to
comprehend. I like to think, however, that it is best understood as something
very simple, very natural.
On 29th August 1997, our beloved
Sai-bandhu, Sri Jaswant Contractor, passed away. He was a good man and a great
devotee of Sai Baba and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji. Before his mortal remains
were consigned to flames I looked at them and I told the people gathered there
that Jaswant Contractor is very much with us. He was not in that body; that was
only the body Jaswant Contractor had used on earth that he himself wasn't
there. And then I shared with them these thoughts that have always been
meaningful to me, thoughts about Sai Baba's love for us.
Jaswant Contractor was born, when he was
in the prenatal state, tucked up under his mother's heart, he was already
sensitive to love - even unborn babies are - and this baby was happy there. But
suppose somebody had been able to tell this child "Look, you can't stay
here. You're going to be born." That to him would have been death, because
it would have meant a change from security to insecurity. We can imagine the
baby thinking - "I don't want to be born. I want to stay here. I like it
here. I'm comfortable. I'm fed, I'm loved."
But there came
a day when that baby was as we call it, born. He left where he was and came
into a New World. And here in this world he felt loving arms around him and the
first thing he saw was a beautiful faces looking down at him. Everybody ran at
his slightest wish to do what he wanted. Then he began to grow up and he had
some troubles, some hard knocks. But he loved life and he loved the world. Time
passed and he became a middle aged man and then an old man. And the thought
came to him "I'm going to die." He said to himself: "I don't
want to die. I like it here. I love the stars at night. I love to feel the sun
on my face. I love the tangy smells of autumn and to sit in front of a room
heater on winter evenings warming my old bones. I love my beloved son sweet
daughter-in-law and lovely grandkids and my sai-bandhus and other friends. I
don't want to die."
But then he did die. Now, do you think
that God, who provided all that protection and love for his coming into this
world and getting started in it, was going to abandon him to gloom and terror
when he left it? Then, I told the mourners who had come to have the final
glimpse; of Jaswant Contractor, "When Jaswant Contractor comes to himself
after death, what he will see? I believe he will see the kindest face he can
imagine looking at him and feel a pair of loving arms around him."
Why do I believe in this picture of a
life beyond? Because, I believe in Sai Baba; why is Sai Baba ever living and
active even after His Mahasamadhi? To show that nothing can overcome the power
of God - nothing - not even death.
Never hurt
anybody. Control anger by Love, Kshama and Daya
By Sri Narasimha Swamiji
Prayer, worship and pilgrimage, all good
be, Praise also is due, to the charitable and devoted ones. Pure are those, who
meditate, and the wise ones, good are the various modes of worship, of the
devotees;
But without Thy grace, they reach You
not.
Nor without Thy grace, conies the inner
illumination!
He alone, who has been blessed by Thy
grace,
Treads the ordained path!
All powers and faculties are but a gift
from Thee, And without Thy grace, nothing are They.
What Baba said in the early days of His
arrival at Shirdi came literally true. Long before 1908, when Shirdi was still
a quiet village, Baba said: "Mansions will rise up in this village.
Bigwigs will come. Chariots, horses, elephants, all will come. Grand
processions will be held." People then laughed at His naive imagination.
In 1914 Sai Baba made a very casual
remark to one of His devotees. He pointed out a piece of waste land to Mrs.
Bapusaheb Jog. "It is my site; a big mansion will rise up here and we
shall live there. Big people would look after Me." Mrs. Jog took it as one
of many inscrutable things He said.
Apparently unconnected with this remark,
something equally inscrutable but more shocking happened in 1916. It was the
festival of Vijayadashmi. Devotees flocked to Shirdi, to attend the ceremonial Seemollanghan.
Sai Baba
suddenly flew into a wild rage. It was one of Baba's characteristic ways to
flare up on such auspicious occasions. But what He did on this occasion far
exceeded anything He did on any other. He took off His head-dress, Kafni, and
His langota (underwear) publicly, tore them up and flung them in the
sacred fire in the mosque and cursed in the heat of His rage. Bhagoji tried to
pacify Him and said "Baba, what is all this about? Today is the holy day
of Seemollanghan. Why are you angry and why do you frighten people
thus?" Baba said, "This day is My Seemollanghan."
Bapu Saheb Booty was a famous millionaire
of Nagpur. He was drawn to Baba and wished to have a building at Shirdi. One
day, he had a dream in which Baba appeared and ordered him to build a wada of
His own with a temple in and Shama was also sleeping there. Booty woke up and
found Shama shedding tears. Shama said: Baba appeared in my dream and ordered,
'Build the wada with the temple. I shall fulfill the wishes of all.
Bapu Saheb was surprised at their dreams.
Being rich enough, he immediately decided to build a wada and with the
cooperation of Shama and Dixit, drew up a plan. Then he placed it before Baba
who blessed it immediately. Work commenced soon and under the supervision of
Shama, the ground floor, the cellar and the well were completed. Off and on
Baba visited the site and suggested certain improvements. It occurred to Booty
that there should be an open platform in the centre, of which the Idol of
Muralidhar could be installed. Booty put his idea before Baba through Shama for
His consent. Baba readily gave His consent, but added, "After the temple
is complete I will come and stay there." Staring at the wada, He
added: "After the wada is complete, we shall use it for ourselves;
we shall live, move and play there, and be happy."
The year 1918 commenced as any other and
a few months passed. Uddhavesa Bua, usually visited Sai Baba every fortnight.
One day, when he arrived, Baba told him not to take the trouble of visiting Him
thereafter. He said the same to another Mrs. Chandrabai also in July 1918.
Not long after this, one day Sai Baba
gave some boli with boiled foul to Kasim (the son of Bade Baba) and told him,
"Go to Aurangabad and see Shamsuddin Mia, give him this money, Rs. 2507-
let him do Moulu, Kowali and Nyas." Moulu is the singing of
devotional songs Kowalis are devotional songs about saints, sung to the
accompaniment of Tabla; Nyas is feeding poor people. Baba then told
Kasim to go to another fakir, Banne Mia, decorate him with a garland.
Thereafter Kasim was to tell Mia "On the ninth day of ninth month, Allah
Himself takes away the lamp which He had lit. Such is Allah's mercy." Sai
Baba gave him Rs. 250/- and a garland. Kasim pleaded he was a stranger to
Aurangabad and so Baba asked Chote Khan to accompany him.
Both Kasim and Chote Khan started for
Aurangabad. When they arrived at Aurangabad railway station, Fakir Shamsuddin
whom Chote Khan knew had come to the station. He was enquiring "Who are
the guests come from Fakir Sai? Chote Khan and Kasim were surprised and bowed
to him. Shamsuddin himself repeated the message of Sai Baba, word by word! Then
he led the three guests’ home and fed them. With the money sent by Sai Baba, he
fed a large number of people. He also performed Kowali and Moulu. By
night all this was completed.
Next day,
Kasim, started in search of Banne Mia. When they reached his house, they saw
him standing still, with one hand raised and the other held down in a trance.
There were a few Arabs. They warned the visitors not to approach him, when he
was in that state as he would be furious with them. So visitors waited for one
hour but Banne Mia showed no sign of regaining awareness. Then Chote khan took
the garland which Baba had given them in his hand and put it round the fakir's
neck. Then Banne Mia lowered his raised arm, as though he became aware of
the arrival of the visitors. So Chote Khan repeated to him the words of Sai
Baba, "Ninth day of the ninth month Allah Himself takes away the lamp
which He had lit." On hearing the words, Banne Mia gazed at the sky and
tears rolled down his eyes.
The party left Aurangabad quite thrilled
by the happenings. But they could not understand what it was all about nor had
they the courage to ask Baba about it.
The
Brick Breaks:
It was October; one day Baba left the
mosque on His daily rounds. Madhavan Fasle was sweeping the mosque. He found
the brick which was so dear to Baba on the floor. To prevent the dust falling
on the holy brick, the boy took it up in his hands but suddenly it slipped,
fell down and broke into two. When later Baba saw it, He was depressed and
said: "It is not the brick that is broken; it is My destiny."
Shadows
of Death:
About the same time Ramachandra Patil,
became seriously ill. He was counting his days in despair. Sai Baba appeared
before Ramachandra Patil, physically. Patil held His feet firmly and asked Baba
to tell him the exact time of his death. Baba was moved and said, "Don't
be anxious, your death-warrant has been withdrawn and you will soon be all
right; but I am worried about Tatya Patil. He will pass away on the
Vijayadashmi day. Do not divulge this to anyone." Indeed Ramachandra Patil
recovered, but he was afraid of Tatya's safety.
On the 3rd October 1918, Raghuvir
Purandare and H. S. Dixit were at Shirdi but Baba sent them to Bombay. He said:
"I will go ahead and you follow Me." He gave them permission saying
"My turbot (tomb) will speak, my muff (dust) will give you replies;
My name will speak." As the terrible day neared, Tatya fell ill and was
bed-ridden. Though Baba was also down with fever, Tatya had full faith in Baba
that He would save his life.
Tatya's condition worsened and at one
stage Tatya felt his end was certain. He was getting udi regularly from
Baba. One day Baba summoned Tatya. As Tatya could not walk, he was carried
thither by a devotee. Then Baba gave him rice boiled in milk which he ate with
difficulty. Baba looked enquiringly at Tatya, applied udi to
Tatya's forehead and said, "Tatya at first I got two swings ready for both
of us. But now I've changed My mind. I don't want to take you now. I am going
alone, Go home!" Then Baba gave him udi and Tatya was taken home.
During this period, Baba made one Mr.
Vaghe read 'Rama Vijaya' once in a week. Next, Baba made him go through it a
second time, non-stop in three days. A third round was also finished. When the
man was exhausted Baba let him go and observed silence.
It was four days to go for Vijayadashami.
Mrs. Andu Marwadi was sitting before Him, and then Baba told her,
"Bat, I am tired of Dwarakamayi and Chavadi. I will go over to the
Booty's wada where big people will look after Me." At that time
Baba's health was far from satisfactory. He stopped His trips to Lendi and His
begging rounds and sat in the mosque.
He told them that He did not feel well
there and asked them to take Him to the Dagdi (stone) wada to
Booty. Saying these last words, he leaned on Bayaji's body and breathed His
last. Bhagoji noticed that His breathing stopped and told Nanasaheb Nimonkar
who was sitting below. Nanasaheb then brought a little water and poured it in
Baba's mouth but it all came out. Then Nanasaheb burst out weeping.
It was a terrible blow to the countless
devotees and the whole of Shirdi felt like a corpse with its spirit gone. The
news spread fast and the whole village rushed to the mosque weeping and crying.
Strangely, Tatya recovered very rapidly and could sit up by noon. Devotees felt
that Sai made the supreme sacrifice of His life to save Tatya from certain
death. For did not Sai say that He would even give His own head to save His
devotee?
Samadhi
or death?
Mrs. M. W. Pradhan, one of Sai Baba's
devotees records her experience:
The night after
Baba's departure, I saw His body in a dying condition in my dream and said,
'Baba is dying'. Baba replied, 'People do not talk of saints as dying, but as
taking samadhi'. His body was still. People were mourning. Such was the
dream. I felt sad. I woke up at 12-30 midnight. In the morning we got from Anna
Chinchinikar a post-card that Baba passed away at 3-00 p.m. on holy Dasserah,
15-10-1918."
On the day following His Mahasamadhi i.e.,
on 16th of October, Baba appeared to Das Ganu in his dream at Pandharpur and
said, "The masjid has collapsed; all the oil men and grocers of
Shirdi have teased Me a lot; so I left the place. I therefore came to inform
you here; go there quickly and cover Me with Bhakkal flowers." Das
Ganu came to Shirdi and started bhajan and kirtan before Baba's samadhi
which he garlanded. Later he fed a large number of people in Baba's name.
A little later Baba appeared in the dream
of another lady and told her to send the pitamber (light yellow silk dhoti)
in her trunk to cover His samadhi. So she did. When the thirteenth
day after the samadhi neared He appeared in the dream of yet another
devotee and told him to celebrate the day.
Thus Baba rightly declared:
"I shall be alive and vigorous from
the tomb also."
"Even after My Mahasamadhi, I
shall be with you the moment you think of Me at any place."
And He stands by His word even today. And
that is taking samadhi."
"It is Death that's dead, not
He!"
To live is, in itself, a value judgment
to breathe is to judge.
- Albert Camus
By Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji
Baba gives all things to His devotees and
fills them with all sorts of joys - enjoyment of worldly objects, comforts of
domestic life, riches, honor, success in one's efforts, security from danger,
cure of diseases and relief from troubles of various sorts. By constantly
remembering Sai, we get a new life of virtue and power, with the joyous
sense of achievement which not only increases the quantum but also the scale of
our happiness, lifting it from the selfish sense gratification to the selfless
spiritual joy, the joy of life that is grounded in love.
Baba in His life worked many miracles and
thus convinced many people of His greatness. His love for humanity knew no
bounds. He had realised that God is love. He constantly preached that in order
to reach the abode of God one should have real and sincere love and bhakti.
To those, who went to Him for spiritual
illumination and for the cure of their physical sufferings, He gave His
nectar-like udi saying Allah bhale Karega. The sufferer did
become all right very soon.
He made no distinction between this man
and that man. To Him all were equal. The poor man was as much entitled to His
love and attention as the rich man. The saint first satisfied the worldly
desires of the people who went to Him in order to attract them to Himself. He
then gradually purified the minds of His bhaktas and turned them slowly
but surely towards spiritual desires. He thus made His devotees fit for
realizing God and attaining mukti. He very often said, "Why should
any one suffer when I am here?"
Near about the
year 1886 this great saint said to Mahlsapathy, one of His great devotees,
"I am going to Allah now. I shall not return for three days." Soon
after, the physical body became corpse with no life. His devotees took care of
the body for three days praying to the saint to return as promised. So at the
end of three days, the body began to show signs of life. Slowly the saint
opened His lustrous eyes and beheld all around Him.
People belonging to different castes and
creeds began to flock to Him in large numbers for spiritual advice. The saint
had the same respect for all castes and creeds. He strongly advised His bhaktas
not to forsake the Gods of their faith, but to worship them in all
sincerity and devotion. He preached that the goal of all the religions was one
and the same, namely the attainment of mukti. He was not a believer in
proselytism. In fact, He discouraged conversion from one faith to another. He
was a great advocate of Hindu-Muslim unity and worked with might and main for
the realization of this great ideal.
The Hindus worshipped the saint in
accordance with their Sastric modes, using mantras in the
worship. The saint had a deep knowledge of the Hindu scriptures as well as of
the Quran, the scripture of the Mohammedans. He often expounded the tenants of
these religions in a wonderful way to His devotees. He often gave money to poor
Mohammedan pilgrims for pilgrimage to Mecca. The holy name of Allah was always
on the lips of Sai Baba. He gave His pictures and Padukas to His Hindu
devotees and asked them to worship them. He exhorted the Mohammedans, to
perform their Namaz regularly and without fail. He deprecated strongly
the idea of a man praising his own religion and belittling the religion of
another.
Baba held Rama, Krishna, and Hanuman etc.
in great reverence as God. Hence He would refuse to sit on the same level with
them. For saints like Gnyaneshwar, Eknath and Tukaram, He had the highest
regard. And He would sit up, join His palms in front of His chest in token of
reverence and close His eyes as soon as arati of any of them was
commenced. About Eknath, He would say that Eknath was an excellent Brahmin the
like of which you do not come across these days.
Sai Baba was a Puma Jnani and an
adept par excellence in yoga. Kharida yoga is a practice which one in a
billion among yogis knows. Baba was that rare yogi, the yogi among
yogis. So He would guide seekers of Gnana yoga and Raja yoga and
Hatha yoga who would seek His personal help and guidance. Their
experiences being personal may not come before the world.
Knowing the operation of the law of cause
and effect in the universe, 'What you sow, so you reap' was the truth
underlying the tales and parables that the narrated. For the laymen, He
advocated the Bhakti marga, the path of devotion, of which devotion and
chanting the Name are the main planks. Worshipping, serving and loving God are
its chief features. He stressed by word and example the importance of
developing this devotion to one's Guru.
The saint sincerely worked for the
spiritual uplift of mankind, healing the sores of suffering of humanity by the
extraordinary power of His spiritual attainments and shuffled off His mortal
coil on October 15, 1918.
But is Baba really dead? No. From His Samadhi,
He hears our prayers and supplications and grants them with a generous
heart. It is this generosity of Baba that is responsible for the unqualified
success of the Baba Mission. The saint is as alive today with His body in His Samadhi,
as He was while in flesh and blood. He inclines His ears unto our prayers
today from His samadhi as vigilantly as He did while He was in our midst
in His physical body.
When Baba is
ever willing and ready to favour the devotee with his grace, it is incumbent on
the devotee, and it becomes his sacred duty to become a fit receptacle to
receive such grace. He can become eligible to receive such grace by leading a
chaste, pure, simple and virtuous life. Sincere repentance and confession will
wash away the feeling of guilt. He has to look up trustfully and sincerely to
the Guru to operate or work on him and raise him higher and higher
through various experiences till at last he is taken to the distant goal as a
culmination of his sadhana.
Identification
A devotee asked Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji
- "I wish to see God."
Swamiji said "you are looking at Him
right now."
Devotee: "Then why do I not see
him?"
Swamiji: "Why does the eye not see
itself?"
Later Swamiji explained: "As well
ask a knife to cut itself or a tooth to bite itself as ask that God reveal
Himself."
Friendliness
A devotee queried Sri Radhakrishna
Swamiji: "What shall I do to love my neighbour?"
Swamiji: "Stop hating
yourself." The devotee pondered those words long and seriously and came
back to say "But I love myself too much, for I am selfish and
self-centered. How do I get rid of that?"
Swamiji advised him, "Be friendly to
yourself and your self will be contented and it will set you free to love your
neighbour."
Power of Guru
(From the glorious life of Saint Narahari
Sonar of Pandharapur)
By Dr. G.R. Vijayakumar
Narahari was born in Devagiri. He learnt
to read and write. But the way of the scholar was not to be his path. His
father's profession called him, and he gave up his studies and began to help
his father in the goldsmith profession. His surname was Sonar - the jeweler who
makes golden ornaments. Narahari became proficient in the traditional art and
gained a little name too as a good jeweler.
Subsequently, Narahari decided to shift
to Pandharapur. Narahari loved Shiva dearly. He would pray to Him day and
night. He would worship the Lord with great fervor. When in trouble, he would
resort to this chosen deity, Shiva.
Pandharapur was a town of Krishna
devotees. Narahari felt as if he were in a desert. To his utter dismay, he
found that he was alone in the town. Everyone spoke about Panduranga, sang His
praises, worshipped Him and adored Him. No one spoke of his dear Lord Shiva at
all. Narahari thought, "Who is this Krishna? Who is Panduranga? And people
are mad after this God. My Shiva can create a thousand such Pandurangas."
What a noise these devotees of Panduranga make thought Narahari when he heard
their keerthanas. Narahari stayed aloof. He decided not to bend his head before
Panduranga. He earned fame as a very good goldsmith.
A rich man came
to Narahari one day. He wanted to donate an ornament to Lord Panduranga and so
requested Narahari to prepare one for him. He had decided on a silver ornament
like a belt called 'kargota', in Marathi language to be tied around the Lord's
waist. Narahari was ready, but didn't want to go to the Panduranga temple for measurements.
He asked the customer to bring the measurements. The grand ornament was ready
in a few days. When the rich man took it to the temple, the ornament did not
fit the Lord. It was too tight.
The rich man and Narahari both were in a
dilemma. The rich man had brought the correct measurements and Narahari made
the ornament accordingly. By mysteriously it was too tight. Then the rich man
asked Narahari himself to come over to the temple and take the measurements
himself. Narahari was a bigot. He had taken a vow not to see any Vishnu image
in his life. But the rich man suggested that Narahari's eyes could be tied up
before the Lord and he can take measurement with his hands.
To go to a Vishnu temple, Narahari was
hesitant, but the 'blinding' arrangement seemed appropriate. He prayed to Shiva
to pardon him the transgression of stepping into a Vishnu temple and went with
the rich man.
Once inside the temple, Narahari's eyes
were tied up. Narahari began taking measurements of the God he did not like to
see. He began to feel the image. Surprise of surprise the touch appeared to be
something different. Was he touching the Shiva image? He moved his hands
towards the face. He couldn't be mistaken because he being a goldsmith knew the
Shiva image to be too well to be deceived. There was the matted hair; there
were the three eyes! Yes. There was the name! He murmured; ‘what’s all this?’
and tore the cloth away from his eyes. To his astonishment, it was the
Panduranga image and not Shiva. But where were the snake, the three yes, and
the matted locks?
He tied the bandage again like one mad
and began to feel the image. Onlookers watched Narahari, behaving like a mad
man inside the sanctum. Narahari's touch convinced him again that it was not a
Vishnu image but a Shiva image. This time he carefully felt the image, and
there was absolutely no doubt.
He removed the cloth once more. He opened
his eyes. No. It was not he, but smiling Panduranga who had opened his dear
devotee's eyes. Narahari Sonar was moved to torrential tears. He cried:
"Oh Lord! Forgive this fool!" He knelt before the Lord and prostrated
again and again.
Behind
The Veil
By
Aditi
When in the
evening the skies turn brilliant
With shades of
pink & orange
Sweeping across
the azure,
And the golden
sun
Begins to
gently descend
While birds in
flocks
Perch on the
top most boughs
As if basking
in the glory of God
In that moment
of Tranquility Of hushed beauty & splash of colours
Does He watch
from behind the Veil?
And when the
night descends
And the sky
turns dark
All Nature, as
though, in mute adoration
Bows low &
deep.
Then there
appear, somewhere above
A crescent Moon
& a star beside
In sweet
companionship
In silent
delight.
And I wonder,
whether it is He again
Watching from
behind the Veil!
Immeasurable
are His gifts
Innumerable His
faces
Untiringly my
eyes seek the gentle Eyes
And the gentle
Voice
Wherein I find Him behind the Veil.
Wealth & Possession
Posing the question 'What is Wealth?' Sri
Radhakrishna Swamiji explained: "Whatever wealth you acquire from God is
for ever with you; but the worldly wealth is not so. One who has worldly wealth
should spend it over Dharma Karyas, which will bring 'Kshema' for the doer of
such acts and for those who are benefited by such acts. This is the secret of
social service. Wealth in such a case will further grow ('vriddhi').
What is Dharma? Whatever is your
attractive object in this world, give a part of it to the man who needs it. It
is Dharma. We should develop a sympathetic attitude towards all creatures,
which will give us happiness. Giving a piece of bread to a dog will give
happiness. This is Baba's way."
Siva and Vishnu in Sahasranama
By Dr. H. Janardhana A
chary a
With whatever evil tendencies one may
come, one is sure to improve in holy company. When you go into a perfume shop,
the scent will enter your nostrils, whether you will it or not.
-
Swami
Turiyananda
It is a well-accepted conception that
Moola Purusha becomes functionally Brahma, the Creator, Vishnu, the Sustainer
or Protector, and Shiva, the Destroyer or Regenerator. The Sahasranama allows
for this understanding thus: "Vidhatha Kritalakshanah" (485)
Brahma, the perfect Creator. Sthanuth is the accepted name for Shiva who is
described here as Sarvah Sharvah - destroyer of everything. Again this
idea is repeated further on as 'Samkshepta Kshemakrit Shivaft Samkshepta,
the involver or one who brings together the expanded Universe at the time of
the final deluge. Why is this involution for; is answered as Kshemakrit, for
doing good as a process of regeneration. Finally to bring home Vishnu, Shiva
and Brahma, the Trinities are one, the Sahasranama has bracketed them together
saying: Mahodhisaya 519, Anthaka 520, Aja 521.
When the cosmic Purusha is considered
functionally in the form of Trinity - the creator, sustainer and destroyer - He
takes the name of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, representing Rajas, Sathva and
Thamas qualities. Sri Shankara while annotating Bhutakritand Bhutabhrit talks
in similar terms.
The first
meeting of Shiva is at Sarva Sharva Shivah Sthanuh (20=24) and second
acquaintance is at Anivarthi Nivrutathma (600). Now we could know more
about the significance of Shiva if we could devote some attention to His
associate namely 'Nivrutathtna’.
The Three Aspects of Shivah
The Vishnu Sahasranama gives a
comprehensive idea on Shiva. It deals with all the three aspects of Shiva:
1.
Shiva, the Brahman
2.
Shiva, the Destroyer
3. Shivam as Mangalam
(i)
Shiva, the Brahman
Those who think of the 'Viswam’ in
terms of Shiva and Sakthi where Shiva is Brahman and Shakti is Prakriti, are
supported by the Vishnu Sahasranama which says Shiva is Gunatheetha pure
Brahman. In the language of the Vishnu Sahasranama Shiva is nivrutathma which
word occurs when Shiva appears at the second place.
(ii)
Shivah, the Destroyer
From the administrative point as said in
the beginning amongst the Trinity, Shiva is the destroyer and so the Vishnu
Sahasranama says 'sarva sharva shivah sthanuh'
The same idea of the destroyer gets an
added emphasis when Shiva's next associate, namely nivrutathma enters
the stage for the first time at nivrutathma samvruta sampramardana. Here
sampramardana has literally and factually the resonance of rudra aspect
of Shiva.
If an enquiring impudent were to ask as
to whether this is susceptible to similar influence by another, the Vishnu
Sahasranama replies leading him up to the place where the nivrutathma appears
for the third and the last time to show him that He is Durjayah.
(iii)
Shivam - Mangalam
The expression of the destroyer gives a
sense of pathos. Rudra is one who causes to weep or cry, which is not the real quality
of Shiva who is Mangala. The Vishnu Sahasranama therefore at the next
opportunity says samkshepta kshemakrit Shiva. The samkshepta recalls
the Shiva's function at the deluge time and the kshemakrit annuls the
destructive impression of Shiva and establishes the impression of benevolence.
What sort of benevolence and in what amount of abundance the Shiva is pouring
forth, could be seen in the long train of words headed with 'sri' emerging from
the word Shiva namely srivatsa vaksha ... sriman lokathrayashrayah.
It is here the sriman appears for
the fourth and the last time. It is in Vishnu Sahasranama that Shiva is crowned
with sriman.
The Story of a Religious Bigot
(As told by Sri Ramakrishna)
There was a man who worshipped Siva, but
hated all other deities. One day Siva appeared to him and said," I shall
never be pleased with you so long as you hate the other gods." But the man
was inexorable. After a few days Siva again appeared to him. This time he
appeared as Hari Hara, that is, one side of His body was Siva, and the other
Vishnu.
At this the man was half pleased and half
displeased. He laid his offerings on the side representing Siva, but nothing on
that of Vishnu. When he offered the burning incense to his beloved God (Siva),
he was audacious enough to press the nostrils of Vishnu lest He should have the
fragrance! Siva was displeased and at once vanished from his sight. But the man
was undaunted as ever.
However, the
children of the village began to tease him by uttering the name of Vishnu in
his hearing. Vexed with this, the man hung two bells on his ears, which he used
to ring as soon as the boys cried out the name of Vishnu, in order to prevent
the sound entering his ears. And thus he was known by the name of Ghanta-karna.
He is still so much hated for his bigotry that every year at a certain time
children in Bengal breaks his effigy with a cudgel.
Emptiness
Sometimes there would be a rush of noisy
visitors to Sri Sai Spiritual Centre and the silence of the place would be
shattered.
This would upset the close devotees but
not Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji, who seemed just as content with the noise as with
the silence. To his protesting devotees he said one day: "Silence is not
the absence of sound, but the absence of self,"
Service
Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji was known to
favour action over withdrawal. But he always insisted on 'enlightened' action.
The devotees wanted to know what 'enlightened’
meant. Did it mean 'right-intentioned?'
"Oh! no" said Swamiji,
"Think how right intentioned the monkey is when he lifts a fish from the
river to save it from a watery grave."
Gospel of Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji
By Prof. R. Narayana lyengar
(Continued from the previous issue)
It is around five in the evening.
Sahasranama chanting is about to begin; meanwhile, a lady devotee has come with
two little girls and introduces them to Swamiji. The girls started dancing
immediately. Now it is clear, they have come only to show their talents to
Swamiji! The dancers are little children, may be six years old. But they are
dancing and also singing melodiously: "We came searching for you only,
where are you; hey Krishna come quick.
Swamiji is immersed in the music and the dance of the two little
artistes.
After the
bhajans are over, late in the evening, Swamiji is conversing with a few
visitors, escorted by R. Seshadri, Chief News Editor of Deccan Herald. Swamiji
is happily conversing with the group. Somehow the conversation has turned
towards cooking. Swamiji is enthusiastically talking "ladies should be
thinking of God while cooking. Then the food becomes pure. The persons who eat
such food also benefit much by this. Our ancestors called the act of eating as
a Yajna (sacred ritual). Is it not so? What a lofty ideal is contained in this
perception. There are mainly three parts in this. Firstly, while cooking one
should be thinking of God. Secondly, the prepared food should be first offered
to God. Lastly, during eating one should purify the material by mantras
(Parishechana), think of God and eat the food as an offering to the Vaishwadeva
(fire in us). Do you know the meaning of Amritopastaranam asi? This
water is verily amrita (nectar), you are the support at the bottom, and on top
of this we eat stands'. We start with this feeling. Similarly at the end we say
Amritaapidhaanatn asi, 'you are verily the nectar cover for the food we
ate'. Mantras have their own special powers. Some present day persons may not
accept this. This does not matter. Krishna Himself has said 'Aksharaanam
Akaarosmi' (I am the first letter Aa among the alphabets). This sound is
the primordial sound.
Even for Omkaara the root is Akaara. If
we follow the practices that have come from ancient times in our culture, the
benefits are many. For example, it is enjoined that we get up early in the
morning before sunrise. Then, our mind will be calm. It is the time when the
night is over and the light is setting in slowly. The whole atmosphere is pure
and peaceful. Whatever we do at such a time, we can do well effortlessly. That
is why it is said we should meditate early in the morning. In the night also,
while in bed it is a good practice to do Japa or think of God. This way one can
sleep well and there will not be many disturbing dreams. Again in the morning
as soon as one awakes one should get up from the bed. Instead if one lies in
the bed rolling left and right, the mind will not be steady later. These are
all helpful factors to lead a good worldly life also! If the mind is calm and
steady, one can work more and efficiently too. For aspirants on the spiritual
path these practices are indispensable. What is the use if one lies in bed
because it is chill outside? You know it is ordained that in this month
(Dhanurmasa: December-January) one should get up early in the morning. Krishna
has in fact declared Maasaanaam Maargashirshoham. If He had to say like
that, then you can understand that whatever spiritual exercises are done in
this month, they bear fruit fast".
All the devotees and visitors have left
the Mandir. Swamiji is sitting on his reclining chair, in his room. Narayan is
arranging the plates to serve Swamiji his simple food prepared and sent by
Lalithamma. Meanwhile, Swamiji is showing a sketch drawn by him. Swamiji's
hobby is not widely known outside. His sketches, done in pencil or sometimes
with crayons and sketch pens, are always about nature. Scenes of mountains and
hillocks, rivers and waterfalls, trees, greenery are very common in his drawings.
Foot paths and temples in lonely places are also among his favorite themes. But
one is amazed at the variety of drawings done by him with only the above
components. He has made hundreds of sketches on the blank side of thick
invitation cards, which he has preserved for this purpose. He keeps on
continuously drawing whenever he finds time. "Swamiji, the sketches you
draw are all very peaceful. The colours you choose are also calm and soothing.
These scenes, I feel, you might have seen as visions in your meditation".
"They are peaceful, aren't they?
That is what is needed.... How peaceful and beautiful Nature is, you see".
Swamiji is taking out his other sketches and describing them. "I was from
my childhood days fond of roaming in the forests.... Have you seen Ooty? You
know how beautiful are the natural scenes there. While I was in Ooty, I used to
wander in the hill slopes and forests along with one of my relatives there. A
bag on the shoulder with some bread, that is all. We would roam about in the
open spaces aimlessly. I have wandered in the forest of Nilgiris, far and wide.
Many of these drawings are memories of those days. From 1919 till 1942 I was in
Ooty. After 1942, I have not gone there at all. Who knows how the place is
now!"
"Swamiji, in all these years, did
you not get an opportunity at all to visit Ooty?"
Swamiji, seems to be thinking of some
other matter, but is answering, "No, why should I go?" He appears to
be eager to change the topic. "Narasimha Swamiji called me to Madras, I
went there, then, I have come here...." After a couple of minutes, he is
continuing: "Some people show so much of devotion and affection, I don't
know what to say. Do you know Sa delivered a child?"
"Oh, is it so Swamiji?"
"She came and requested me. Don't
you remember she had come that day?"
"Yes, Swamiji. I recollect her
visit."
"I don't
know whether they tell their mothers or not, but they confide in me. She told
me about her pain and discomfort. I sympathized and gave her vibhuti and
advised her to apply and assured her that everything will be alright. I also
told her that she would definitely deliver before 25th, and I advised her that
she is keeping well after the delivery. Everything has happened like that only.
I learn that she is keeping well after the delivery. What is it I can do? I can
only pray for the well-being of people. When they show so much love and regard
for me, how can I keep quiet. That is why, that day after she went out of the
hall, I got up and blessed her, outside". (Sa had come three or four days
back. After taking leave of Swamiji perhaps she was near the Radha-Krishna idol
outside. Swamiji spontaneously had got up from his seat, after some time and
waved his hand in blessing). "But you see the most important thing is
faith and belief. Your sister will also get cured if she applies what I have
given".
"Yes, Swamiji, she is applying that.
In the beginning perhaps she did not have much belief. But now she is not like
that".
"I don't know anything. What I feel
is everything in this world is sustained by Love only. But, you know what; this
Love is not from the body angle. This is the body transcended love between the
spirits. Our connection should always be from spirit (Chetana) to spirit. Are
you following what I am telling?"
"Yes, Swamiji, I understand. If we
analyze these, it would appear that ladies have greater levels of Bhakthi. Is
it not so Swamiji?" (Swamiji is laughing).
"Yes, yes. They are capable of
deeper devotion. That is why the example of Radha is cited for Love. If one
gets that much Bhakthi, what else is needed? Sa is coming here from her
childhood. Once I had been to her house in Chamarajapet. She was a young girl
then. Her leg was swollen and she was unable to walk. Her brother Na_ requested
me. I gave her prasad. She started using that and she was alright in a few days
time. Later she got married and got a son. From her childhood she has had great
faith in me. Va_ also has great faith in me. Is it not so?"
"Yes, Swamiji...That lady, wife of
Jaswanth, has also immense faith in you Swamiji."
"Yes, yes" Suddenly Swamiji has
become silent and absentminded. He is vacantly looking at something for a few
seconds.
"Somehow or other, Swamiji, women
get faith easily and quickly. But, for men, a myriad of doubts and questions
arise endlessly". Hearing this, Swamiji is laughing heartily. Narayan
making the bed of Swamiji is also laughing loudly.
"Yes, my boy. What you say is true.
It seems that God created women only to demonstrate what Bhakthi is".
(To be continued)
Serious head injury averted
By R. Seshadri
Guru's grace only is one's sadhana. Jnana
or wisdom comes as experience or in the wake of the Guru's grace. He alone
succeeds who feels the Guru is the one person needed. Without a Guru, there is
no realisation.
Sai Baba
It may be recalled in two earlier issues
of "Saipadananda", I had narrated the rescue acts of the Guru who
once again, about three years back saved me from certain head injury.
The phone at home started malfunctioning as the cable connection on the wall outside snapped a couple of times, and restored by a departmental lineman. To avoid delay, I undertook the adventure of using a ladder to set right the snag the next time six or seven feet up. After successfully accomplishing the job, I started descending the ladder. I missed the third step and fell flat on my back, the back of the head absorbing the impact from the floor.