Once Sai Baba performed a miracle before which all other supernatural powers pale into insignificance. This was to revive the dead. The daughter of the maternal aunt of Vasudeo Sitaram Ratanjanakar, who had come to Shirdi, had this experience. The daughter had developed Tuberculosis. As treatment of doctors had proved ineffective, she was being given only udi of Sai Baba as medicine. She also began saying that unless she had the darshan of Sai Baba, she would not get well. Though the girl's condition was delicate, Ratanjanakar brought her to Shirdi and took her for Sai Baba's darshan. Baba let off a volley of abuses and said, "Let her lie on the kambal (coarse blanket) and keep her on water." Accordingly, she was given only water for seven days and on the eighth day the girl died in the morning when it was time for Sai Baba to wake up. That morning Sai Baba was in Chavadi but He did not get up at the usual time. It was eight 0'clock and yet Sai Baba was asleep! It was the first time in the history of Shirdi for Sai Baba to wake up so late. People began attending to the arrangements for the funeral of the girl. The girl's mother and Ratanjanakar's mother were weeping and other devotees were trying to pacify them. Just then the girl made some movement, yawned and looked around bewildered. All were gladdened on seeing this. Then the girl narrated the following account: A dark man was forcibly taking her away when she called out to Sai Baba. Immediately Sai Baba belabored the man with his staff, rescued her and took her to Chavadi. The girl had not seen Chavadi but she described it vividly. While all this was happening in Dikshit wada where Ratanjanakars were staying, people were discussing animatedly why Sai Baba was still asleep.

Suddenly, Sai Baba got up in Chavadi, shouting loudly, and striking his staff on the ground, ran in the direction of Dikshit wada. There was excitement all around, and the hearts of the bhakthas (devotees) were filled with joy and wonder at the miracle Sai Baba performed in this mortal world.

(From "Shri Sai Baba" by Swami Sai Sharan Anand, translated into English by V.B. Kher)
Back to Menu

Contributed Article: Sri Saibaba and Speech(Conclusion)

Another instance is our grandsons asking for blank papers for drawing pictures. Normally, once or twice we can always spare. But, when our stock is coming to an end, what do we tell them? If we give away every paper from our stock, there would be a problem of getting it from the market in this our old age. If we tell the grandson that there is no paper left with us, we transgress the principle of truth. Then, how should we add?

From the above discussion, personally my views are as follows. One must always speak the truth. Never tell a lie - at least not for one's own self-interest. However, sometimes for the benefit of others. There is no harm in sometimes telling a little lie. For example, if telling some sad news is likely to shock a person, there is no harm in telling a lie that such a thing has not happened or that we do not know about it. Similarly, if somebody has offered with love and care some food and even if it is not relished by us, will it not be wiser to praise the food smilingly rather than bluntly telling the truth and hurting the feelings of that person! Such acts are even supported by our scriptures:

Satyasya vachanam shreyaha
satyadapi hitam vadeta!
Yadbhutahitmatyamanta
metatsatyam matam mama//
- Mahabharata, Shanti Parva
(Telling the truth is good, but telling what is beneficial to others is better. In my opinion, what results in the ultimate welfare of all beings, is the real truth.)
Satyam bruyat priyam bruyat na bruyat satyampriyam !!34!!
- Manusmruti, Adhyay 4
(One should speak the truth and speak what is pleasing and agreeable to others. Never speak the truth, which is not pleasing and agreeable to others.)

Keep Your Promise Always: Sai Baba preached that, if you promise anything to anybody, you must fulfill it. Never give a false promise. Devotees normally pray and make a vow to their deity or Guru to do some act or offer something, on condition, that certain desire of theirs is fulfilled, but, once their desire is fulfilled they forget to fulfill their vow. There are many instances, where Sai Baba prompted such devotees to fulfill their pending vows. For instance, in Ch. 33, Appasaheb Kulkarni wished to pay Rs. 10 to the Fakir, who had visited his residence during his absence and Baba got it fulfilled by approaching him again and demanding the full amount. Similarly, in Ch. 30, we have read how Sai Baba maneuvered to get Shama's long pending offering to Sapta-shringi Goddess fulfilled. In Ch. 15 also Sai Baba is seen highly pleased to note His devotee Cholkar giving up sugar in his dietary and drinking tea also without sugar until his vow to offer sugar-candy to Sai Baba by visiting Shirdi is fulfilled.

Talk Less: Sai Baba Himself followed this principle. He never gave long lectures, but preached His devotees by giving them suitable experiences or by narrating suitable stories. For spiritual advancement, observing silence for sometime everyday is good. Baba Himself practiced this by spending sometime twice a day in Lendi Baug till the end of His life regularly. Talking too much consumes lot of energy, hence, even in day-to-day business; it is advisable to avoid unnecessary talk.

Repeating God's name: In speech, Sai Baba's most important advice was about repeating God's name. He Himself used to repeat Allah Malik (God is Lord) constantly. He was fond of making others sing God's name continuously by day and night for a whole week. This is known as Nama-saptaha. Hemadpant also adds in Ch.27: "The efficacy of God's name is well-known. It saves us from all sins and bad tendencies, frees us from the cycle of births and deaths. There is no easier sadhana than this. It is the best purifier of our mind. It requires no paraphernalia and no restrictions. It is so easy and effective." (P. 145)

In short, Sai Baba's advice on speech was as under:
(a) Not to speak cuttingly to anyone, so as to hurt-him to the quick. On the contrary one should bear the other person's outburst calmly!
(b) Avoid argumentation and disputation!
(c) Never indulge in slander-mongering or ridiculing others!
(d) Speak the truth always!
(e) Speak soft and sweet words!
(f) Keep your promise!
(g) Talk less and observe silence frequently!
(h) Repeat God's name as often as possible!
(Contributed by Source: Shri Sai Leela Magazine, 1993)
Back to Menu

Experiences of Devotees:

Chandrashekhar
Here I will post one of my experiences related to my IT job. I was finding it very difficult to cope up with other employees because of my lack of experience in this field and also I was not able to gain much experience in this company. Then my wife asked me to read Sai Satcharitra in a sapthah. I started reading it and finished reading in a week. After this I received an interview call from an IT company from Mangalore and I got selected in that with a good salary. The employees there, I found very co-operative and I learned a lot in programming in this company because of the grace of my Sai. As soon as I got a job in Mangalore, I was looking out for a house and prayed in a Sai temple for getting room very close to the Sai temple. The next day one of the brokers showed me a room, which is located in front of that Sai mandir only. I was wonderstruck by this incident and thought Sai would always guide me in every aspect of life. Then onwards I started gaining good experience in IT field. I was always worried because I was very new to this field and I was treated as a fresher wherever I was interviewed. I faced lots of interviews and could not clear any one of them. Each time I used to get dejected and pray in front of Sai humbly. One fine day I got a call from Bangalore for an interview. I prayed Sai to clear this interview. After the telephonic interview immediately I got a call from the HR, saying that I am through with this interview and I was called for the personal and HR round of interview. I cleared the personal round and then HR round of interview started. I was demanding for a decent amount of salary, and the HR manager didn't agree for this. He told they are able to pay less than what I demanded. He asked me to wait at reception for some more discussion with the Managing director. Then I remembered Sai and prayed Him humbly at the reception. I told Sai, "If You could make this HR guy agree with my demand I would pay half of my first salary to Shirdi Medical trust". Then lo?.within some 15 minutes HR manager came back to me and shook my hand saying that I am selected and they are ready to pay the amount what I demanded. I was very happy and thanked a lot to my Sai. And after joining this company, I became very confident and doing well in this field. Here also I got good friends and all were co operative. Then I went to Shirdi and paid my half salary.

Deepak
This was a unique experience, which took place in mid December. Bhopal had become cold and as a practice people burn wood to keep themselves warm. We have two guards during night in our housing society. As usual they used to lit fire and at night sit around it. I have a habit of going out at night to see the guards. As per my wife's instruction she used to accompany me. On a particular night it was really very cold and as usual I got up but as it was very cold I again went off to sleep. Suddenly I realized a person standing at the entrance of my bedroom door and instructing me to go and check the guard. The person was wearing a khaki half pant and a khaki shirt and was bare foot with small hair on his head. I got up and walked out with my wife. What I saw both the guards were nicely sleeping in the guardroom and all the doors and windows were closed and a fire was lit inside. The fire was giving out smoke and had I not gone out on the instruction of the unknown person both the guards might have died. My question is who was the person. Was it Sai Baba? I think so. Baba saved both the guards. Sai Baba is great.

Sai devotee
My husband was going through lot of problems regarding his job, he was working as a contractor for 4 months. After leaving his full time job, he was trying a lot, going through interviews, everything was finalized but results were not coming up, then once when I was reading some article about Sai, I came across strange thing that Baba used to say if you think that you can handle each and every thing then why do you say that you believe me and just do not surrender anything. So I decided to surrender to Sai, not to think anything and in one week he got a full time job opportunity, got through in that week, and today that is Thursday he already received an offer letter, which was not possible in these four months. It happened in only two Thursdays, I am grateful to Baba.
Back to Menu

Devotees say...

Vaijayanthi
My Namaskarams to Saibaba. My brother met with an accident and was in ICU. It was only by the grace of Shree Sai, he did not have any physical injury but had some mental shock and the doctors have advised that he will recover from the shock as soon as possible. By only Shree Sai's grace and blessings my brother has recovered totally from the shock earlier than the time mentioned by the doctors. I had prayed to Sri Sai that if my brother will recover soon, I would post my experience in Sai Vichaar section.

Anupam
Few weeks back my elder son who had viral fever and was running very high temperature had to take medicine every few hours. Doctor told me that it would be like that for 3 to 4 days. I gave him Baba's vibhuti and he did not need medicine afterwards. Couple of days later younger one also got infected with viral but after taking the vibhuti(udi) he also got well. I wish I could feel His aura all the time.

Nidhi
Yesterday I received a New Year calendar of Sai Baba just like that. But truly speaking it came as a miracle to me and moreover a great blessing to my family and me. Thank you very much. There are so many things to share about Baba but I don't know from where to start I think it will take some time to open up. Thanks again for sending me such a great calendar.

Ramadevi
I posted about my medical insurance bill; it got cleared on the same day. Thank you very much.

Beenu
Baba thank you very much for coming to my home in form of Shirdi Sai Wall Calendar. Words cannot describe how overwhelmed we were to receive it. Actually its been two months that we have moved to US from India and I requested for a calendar while I was staying at my brother-in-law's house in Indianapolis and see I got the calendar the day I moved to my house in Chicago and we have taken it as your blessings Baba.
Back to Menu

Prayer Club:

Neetu
Sai Baba, I don't know why so much of tension is going on with my husband. I always try to make him happy and feel good. But he gets angry for some or the other reason. I from my bottom of my heart make so much of an effort but I have a small baby I need him. I feel very lonley, we need him and his love forever. Sai Baba, please do some magic please help me this time also.

Vijayalakshmi
I have been applying desperately for a post doc fellowship in the Life Siences to enable me to go abroad and work but for some reason or the other I fail at the last moment. I have lost some really good offers due to some bad luck or the other in the past two years. I am now doing the Sai Satcharita vrat for nine Thursdays and I have completed seven Thursdays without seeing any sign of change. I really pray that atleast before the completion of the next two weeks I should get a good offer abroad from a good person for a good salary so that I can leave for abroad in the next month. If this miracle happens I shall post my experience in Sai Vichaar. Baba please bless me. You alone know how much I have suffered in my life and how much necessary it is for me to work and earn money while I am young and energetic.

Vijaya
Baba, my son (3 years old) has been diagnosed with Autism, globally delayed development and mental retardation. Please help my child to get over it. I am depressed, not interested in this life at all. Sai, please help my child to do his daily activities, communicate and play.

Sai devotee
Baba with Your blessing me and my family are doing very well. I have a request for my mom who is in great pain. She has suffered a lot in her lifetime. My father passed away when I was 13 years old, since then she took good care of us. She never got any happiness Baba, always she wished for her children's future. Now that I am 37 years old we all are settled but she is unsettled as her property is stuck in court. Please Baba I pray for her, please grant her a peaceful house to live in. Pease Baba bless her, show mercy on her, she needs juistice. As a daughter I am unable to help her and can't see her in pain. Don't delay Baba, bless her as soon as You can. I do believe in You, please accept my prayer and bless her.

Sai devotee
Dear Swami, I am going through a very deep sadness and I have zest for life. I am always angry, tired and weak. Please hep me Baba, please grant me energy, inner peace and please keep my brother and my parents safe. I love You and please forgive me for all my sins.

Meenakshi
My son is going to write exams on February 9th and 10th. Please Baba help him to study well and bless him to write the answers well. Give him more concentration and make him to study well for writing the exams well. Bless him for writing the exams easily and my daughter should study well to get more marks.

R.K.V.
Baba, please help me to overcome these problems, please bless me with a child. We are desprately waiting please Baba.
Back to Menu

Quotation of the Week:

"Let us do our prescribed duty and surrender our body, mind and five pranas (life) to the Guru's feet. Guru is God, all pervading. To get this conviction, strong unbounded faith is necessary."-Sri Sai Satcharita
Back to Menu

Question of the Week:

Q. How to remove Fear and unwanted Sentiments?

A. Kiranmayi

A fear is always caused by misperception that is either projected by our mind or a misperception projected by others in the world on us. If every situation is handled with purity of heart then there is no place for dogmatic moralities. There is a reference made in Sai Satcharitra where Baba asks us not to worry about discerning rights verses wrongs, as we are not capable to make judgments; so He asks us to do everything as an offering to Him. Similarly is said in Bhagavad Gita by Krishna to Arjuna. And so also said as a closing of Vishnu Sahasra Namam-
"Kăyena văchă manasendriyerva Budhyătma năva prakruté swabhăvath
Karomi yadyat sakalam parasmai Narăyanăyetu samarpayămi."
Back to Menu

Sai Activities:

Shirdi Sai Temple of Chicago and Suburbs, Illinois, USA
Shirdi Sai temple is open daily from 8:00 a.m to 9:00 p.m.(Winter hours). Daily program includes Kakad Arathi at 8 a.m. followed by Abhisek. Madhayana Arathi at 12 noon, Dhoop Arathi at 6 p.m. and Shej Arathi at 9 p.m. Archana, Homams, Sahasranama and sponsored poojas continue in between the Arathis. To request a pooja for yourselves, your friends and family, please call. Devotees can request water (Abhishek Jal) from the Holy bathing of Baba by sending us an email or by phone. Temple is located 25 minutes drive west of Schaumburg on intersection of IL Route 47 and Plank Road in Hampshire, IL. For more information please call 847-931-4058 or send email to maildrop@saibaba.org.

Sri Saibaba Mandir, Minneapolis, MN
Sri Saibaba Mandir is located in Minneapolis, MN at 1835 Polk St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418. The mandir is open 7 days a week in the evenings from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm and during morning hours from 9 am to 12:30 pm, except Mondays. Satsangs are conducted every Sunday mornings, 9 am to 12:30 pm. Please visit the mandir website www.hamaresai.org or call 612-789-7729 for more information on mandir activities, events and other information.

Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of DFW Metroplex is located at 2109 West Parker (Parker Plaza), Suite 212, Plano, TX 75023. For temple hours and activities please call the temple office at 469-467-3388 or visit the website www.shirdisaidallas.org.

Shirdi Sai Temple of New England, Boston Area
Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of New England is now operational. It is located at 1827 Bridge St # 8, Dracut, MA 01824. The temple is open every Thursday from 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm and Saturday's from 4.00 pm to 7.00 pm. For temple hours and activities please visit the website www.nessp.org or send mail to maildrop@nessp.org.

Shirdi Sai Center in Bay Area, CA
Shirdi Sai Center is located 897-B East Kifer Rd, Sunnyvale, CA 94086. For more information please call 408-705-7904 or 408-564-6704 or send email to saibandhu@yahoo.com. You can also visit our website is www.Shirdisaiparivaar.org.

Shirdi Saibaba temple, Los Angeles, CA
Devotees in Los Angeles area are informed about Sri Shirdi Saibaba temple in Los Angeles area. The temple is located at - 144 South 4th Street, Montebello, CA 90640. For more information please call Krishna Samantula at 949-679-9938 or visit www.shirdisaila.org.

Saibaba Temple, Columbus, Ohio
Devotees in Columbus and surrounding Ohio locations area are informed about Sri Shirdi Saibaba temple in Metro Columbus area. The temple is located in a leasing space at 7674 Sawmill Rd, Dublin, OH 43016. Please attend daily Aaratis and Thursday bhajans. For more information please call Panditjee at 614-799-8411 or visit www.saibaba.cc.

Shirdi Sai bhajans every Thursday at Maitland, Florida
Devotees are invited to participate in Sai study and bhajans on Thursdays between 7-8 pm at Meditation Gallery, 219 E Horatio Ave, Maitland, FL 32715. For more details please contact Bonnie at 407-830-1276.
Back to Menu

You may subscribe to receive the newsletter by e-mail.

Fill out your e-mail address and hit the subscribe button: