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Sai Vichaar 01.Feature of the Week 02.Contributed Article 03.Experiences of Devotees 04.Devotees Say 05.Sai Activities 06.Prayer Club 07.Quote of the Week 08.Question of the Week 09.Subscribe to Sai Vichaar 10.Email Newsletter to a friend 11.Submit Articles to Sai Vichaar 12.Un-Subscribe Sai Vichaar 13.From the Editor's Keyboard 14.Disclaimer From the Editor's Keyboard... In recent days many devotees are using submission forms for their writings incorrectly. Please help Sai Vichaar by sending your contribution under appropriate topics. For example use Devotee Experiences page for sending your experiences and use Prayer Club for prayer requests only. A Sai devotee suggests the Question of the week for this week as follows: Q. Baba left his bodily coil for 72 hours much before his mahasamadhi- did Baba give any indication to his devotees what transpired in those 72 hrs or was any kind of discussion on this? Humbly Yours, The Editor
Disclaimer Sai Vichaar is devoted to the philosophy and teachings of Shri Sadguru Sai Baba of Shirdi, and will take every measure to avoid topics or themes contradicting the same. Sai Vichaar team or saibaba.org is not responsible for the opinions expressed by individual contributors.
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Feature of the week:
The significance of Sri Sai's "Re-birth"
In 1886, Baba died his first death. One day when sitting along with his devotee Mahalsapathy in the Dwaraka Mayi, Baba said that he was going to Allah and that consequently for three days his body was to be looked after for, after that period, he might return to the body, and that in case he did not do so, the body should be interred near the mosque. For a time being, Baba's body became a corpse. An inquest was held over the same and the officer holding the inquest insisted on Mahalsapathy burying the body. But Mahalsapathy vehemently opposed the proposal and succeeded in preventing the internment. On the fourth day, Baba's body revived and for thirty-two years thereafter, Baba worked through that living fleshy case and finally left it on the 15th October, 1918, with the same prescience and clear control over all the circumstances which he showed in 1886. This leaving of the body at will and returning to it at pleasure is a siddhi, described in the Yoga Sastras; and Baba's exercise of such powers convinced and would convince many of the truth of the Sastras. 'Dharmasamsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge' (i.e. 'I am born in each age for establishing Dharma') said Krishna of Dwapara Yuga to Arjuna. And this divinity of the twentieth century A.D. in Kaliyuga, like other men of God (Devatmas) of the same period, has frequently by his conduct proved the truth of, and confirmed, the belief in Dharma and Sastras. One noticeable feature of Baba's life after his return to the body was that he began to encourage the arrival of bhaktas to his feet. Evidently the object of his return to his body was to carry out his mission more fully and for a longer period on earth, especially with reference to the devotees and others bound to him by former ties, rinanubandha. This is well illustrated by his call to Narayana Govind Chandorkar, B.A., Personal Assistant to the Collector of Ahmednagar, to come to his feet. When N.G.Chandorkar or 'Nana' as Baba affectionately called him, was halting at Kopergaon, Baba sent word to him repeatedly to come to Shirdi for a visit. Nana after much hesitation came up to Shirdi and asked Baba why he was sent for. Baba replied that for four previous births, Nana had been intimate with Baba and that therefore in this life also, he should get into similar close contact. Again Nana hesitated. But Baba, by the exercise of his wonderful powers and his kindness especially, filled Nana's heart with faith and gratitude for numerous miraculous favors showered upon him. On one occasion when Chandorkar was stranded on a hot day on a waterless hill (Harischandra Hill) unable to climb up or get down, he suddenly exclaimed; 'If Baba were here, he would give me water'. Baba who was then at Shirdi, forty miles away, mentioned to the people there that Nana was thirsty and should be provided with a palmful of water. At that time, a Bhil appeared on that hill and pointed out a palmful of water to Chandorkar, under the very rock over which the latter was seated. Later when Nana visited Shirdi, Baba informed him that it was; he who provided water on the waterless rock. When Nana's daughter was undergoing the tortures of prolonged parturition, Baba sent a gosavi from Shirdi with udhi to be used for easing the parturition. Chandorkar wondered at Baba's power to provide everything he wanted at any place and at any time and at the depth of Baba's love for his devotees. Nana had innumerable proofs of Baba's vast, nay, unlimited powers, his perpetual watch over his beloved devotees, his invariable kindness towards all that approached him, and summed them all up in the phrase that Baba was omnipotent, omniscient and universally kind. No word aptly expresses the sum total of these attributes except 'God'. Chandorkar was convinced that Baba was God and worshipped him as God; and by reason of Chandorkar's vast influence, Baba's greatness and glory became known to all in various parts of Maharashtra. One Ganpat Rao Sahasrabuddhe, a constable attending on NGC was similarly turned in to a devout Bhakta and made to quit Government service (in 1905) substituting therefore the service of God or Baba. Sri Sahasrabuddhe has thenceforward been known as DasGanu Maharaj and as a Kirtankar-devotee of Baba all through these forty years. By his powerful Harikathas and his talents, he has carried Baba to the homes of tens of thousands in Maharashtra. His works on Baba are the earliest authorities on the life of Baba. The above mentioned two gentlemen with others like H.S.Dixit and Anna Dabolkar, may be regarded as Baba's apostles who carried the faith in Baba to the length and breadth of Maharashtra. Baba's own miraculous personality surviving his release from his physical body has however been the principal reason for the success of all this propaganda. His power is still working and by reason of that along, myriads in Madras and other Presidencies have become firm adherents to, and worshippers of, Baba. The faith is well grounded in the experience showered upon them now as liberally and miraculously, as they were showered before Baba's passing away. Baba's figure is occasionally seen by, and his wondrous powers are manifested to, those that have the necessary faith, at any place, as Baba has no partiality and his grace cannot be the monopoly of any person or place. He is working wonders today at various places and therefore Sai Mandirs have sprung up in many of them. (Source: "Who is Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi?" by Shri H.H.Narasimhaswamiji)
Contributed Article: Happy Hanukah
Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is celebrated for eight days, commencing on the 25th day of the month of Kislev (November/December), to commemorate the victory of the Jews over the Hellenist Syrians in 165 BCE. Hanukkah is celebrated this year from December 5th.
Hanukkah in Hebrew means dedication and the story goes as follows: The Maccabees, sons of the Priestly Hasmonean family led the Jews in their revolt against the Syrian overlords. After their victory, they cleansed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem defiled by the Syrian invaders, dedicated it again to the service of God and in memory of their victory, the Maccabees celebrated the first Hanukkah.
Judah Maccabee and his associates, while making ready to rededicate the temple were unable to find enough clean oil to light the lamps. However, in one of the temple chambers, they finally came upon a small cruse of oil, which, under normal circumstances, would have lasted only one evening. Miraculously, this small amount of oil kept the temple lights burning, not for one night, but for all the eight nights until new oil fit for use in the temple could be obtained. This is the miracle commemorated by the kindling of the Hanukkah lights.
The most important observance associated with Hanukkah is the kindling of the Hanukkah lights on the Menorah or Hanukkiya, a seven- or nine-branch candelabrum. On each night, more light is kindled, beginning with one candle on the first night of Hanukkah and ending with eight on the final evening. The chanting of appropriate blessings and the singing of songs accompany the lighting. The ninth branch is reserved for the shamash, the servant light, which is lit first and used to kindle the other lights of the Menorah. Hanukkah light symbolizes the light of religious, national and cultural freedom won by the Maccabees for their people. It gave new force to the faith that had waned under the influence of Hellenism and Jewish culture began to flourish again. In addition, the Hebrew language, which had been largely supplanted by Greek, came into its own once more. Hanukkah is a joyful family festival for Jews all over the world. They celebrate this festival of lights by praying, exchanging gifts, children playing games and having parties. Special delicacies during this period includes latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (doughnuts). These are delicacies made with oil, long associated with Hanukkah.
Yash Ashajyothi Pallavi Nirupama Sravanthi Manju Dimple Gita Ramadevi Anju Rajeshwari Cynthia Srivalli Poornima Aparna Shivani Prasant Vishal Sudhakar
Quotation of the Week:
"It is a general rule, that it is our good luck in the form of accumulation of merits in past births, that enables us to seek the company of Saints and profit thereby."-Sri Sai Satcharitha
Q. Baba left his bodily coil for 72 hours much before his mahasamadhi. Did Baba give any indication to his devotees what transpired in those 72 hours or was any kind of discussion on this?
Special New Year Eve pooja on Monday, December 31st Temple open till midnight Shirdi Sai Temple of Chicago and Suburbs, Illinois, USA Sri Saibaba Mandir, Minneapolis, MN Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas Shirdi Sai Center in Bay Area, CA Shirdi Saibaba temple, Los Angeles, CA Saibaba Temple, Columbus, Ohio Shirdi Sai bhajans every Thursday at Maitland, Florida
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