It is commonly assumed that man resorts to any kind of spiritual pursuit only during the latter part of life. Stages of life according to Hindu scriptures include balya (infancy), kaumarya (youth), grihastha (household), and vanaprastha (retirement). It is thought that vanaprastha is a stage where in, the man proceeds for a recluse in woods and spends time in search of fulfillment. Should this be the case?

Shri B.V. Hanumantha Rao in Sai Anusaranamu writes, "Time is a valuable commodity. There should be no waiting to initiate any kind of attempt for liberation. It should be done when all our senses are in right order and we have the right physical and mental condition. It is a common practice for man to wait until the earthly life is settled, and it is his tendency to procrastinate until he will be ready for the spiritual journey. In reality, such a day may not come at all. Every stage of life brings with it, its own situations that may demand one’s time and attention. It is very easy to be entangled in the trap of earthly comforts, joy, sorrow, fear, and a myriad of myth. Human life can be short and no one can predict when it will end. On the other hand, leaving everything, our thoughts, deeds, and their consequences at God’s disposal will bring a renewed sense of well being, happiness and fulfillment that is only perennial. Cultivating the attitude of staying immune to the earthly uncertainty will bring one close to the Lord and assure him of a fruitful spiritual realization. Living dead in such instances will in fact amount to Living in God".
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(Dedicated to the Children of the World)
Contribution by Havovi Medora, Bombay, India

Chapter 3

Sai Baba’s Early Miracles, His Begging and Dakshina

Sai Baba loved lights. Many wondered at the constant oil lamp or dhuni that lay near him lit day and night. Rather strange, as it is not consistent with the Muslim or Hindu religions. From this burning fire came udi (ash). Its powers were magical and people used it as a medicine. They are even doing so today. Like Parsis revere fire and have a symbolic fire burning constantly, so did Sai Baba. His dhuni burned from the time he arrived in Shirdi and it still burns there today.

Baba always had oil-lights and oil-lamps around him. Once, when he went to buy oil the oil, the vendors decided to tease him and not sell him the oil. Baba returned to his masjid and the oil vendors followed gleefully to see what he would do now that the oil was denied to his lamps. They watched as Baba filled his little earthen pots with water and lit their wicks. The lamps burned brightly and more radiantly than before. The oil vendors departed dumbstruck and never teased him again.

Shirdi was a poor town and had many paupers. They would come to warm themselves at Baba’s dhuni. Nobody was ever turned away. Baba gave comfort and solace to all. He could make the blind see and the lame walk. At first he was known as the ‘mad fakir’, as sometimes he would rant and scold, but in the very next minute he was as sweet as a loving mother to her children. People saw these outbursts as blessings. They knew of Baba’s extraordinary love for all. He could not bear to see anyone suffering or in pain. When the ailing came pleading for absolution, he would say that the minute one sets foot in his dwarkamai (where he used to sit) they would be on the road to recovery. Their pain and discomfort was due to previous karmas, but Baba had so much love and compassion that their past sins were burned away like dry grass and his devotees returned happy and healthy. Such was his love for his devotees.

Blessed are the people in Shirdi in front of whose homes Baba stood as a beggar and called out, "Please give me a piece of bread." He would hold out his little tin pot to receive milk; bread and rice he put in his zoli (a cloth bag). When he returned to the masjid, all the food would be put in a kundi (a metal vessel). Crows, dogs and beggars came to partake of these tidbits. Baba’s tongue knew no taste, for he had acquired control over it. One may well ask why Baba begged for food - he, whose glance could turn a beggar into a king. Blessed indeed is the life of such a noble person.

Baba wished to teach us the principle of dana (charity). This is also linked to his unique phenomenon of asking for dakshina (alms). In order to teach his devotees the lessons of charity, and to remove their attachment to money and thus to purify their minds, he took the dakshina, but there was a reason. From some, he asked for more; from others less. Sometimes, when devotees volunteered their money, Baba would refuse it. The peculiarity of this was that whoever gave received back ten-fold. When Baba took his samadhi (departure from earth) even after receiving considerable sums of money, he had in his possession nine one-rupee coins that he gave to a devotee, Laxmibai. By taking money and food from his devotees, he was teaching them lessons of renunciation and purification.

Chapter 4

The Udi Phenomenon

The udi (ash) from the sacred fire was sifted and distributed by Baba to his devotees. He would lovingly apply udi on their foreheads. Once, a devotee who suffered from tuberculosis came to the masjid. Baba halted the disease immediately. The devotee took the udi and went away thankful. Similarly, udi was applied to snake bites and scorpion stings, which vanished as if they were never there. An old man who suffered from terrible gallstones was asked to mix udi with water, whereupon the gallstones melted and gave the old man complete relief.

Today, if one burns joss sticks near a photograph of Baba, the ash that collects becomes Baba’s holy udi and cures everything from headaches to backaches. However, a devotee must have firm faith in Baba’s power, and must believe that from the time he invokes Baba’s name and takes the udi he is on the path to a speedy recovery.

If one sees a photograph or picture or medallion of Baba, the minute a devotee looks at it, it seems to come to life. Baba’s eyes follow his and he can feel his presence. Once, a devotee once came to Shirdi to take Baba’s darshan. He bowed before Baba who said, "Yes, we met five years ago." The devotee was confused as this was his first meeting with Sai Baba. Baba then reminded him that five years ago he had bowed before a portrait of Sai. The man was astonished to hear this because he had indeed done such a thing. But how did Sai know?

It must have been wonderful to see Baba tending to his devotees with love. He would apply udi to their foreheads, and press udi into the palms of others. This incredible ash gives solace to all. I am living proof, as for years I have not had to take medicines. Just Sai’s udi suffices. To his devotees it is as precious as gold.
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Experiences of Devotees

Ayush Mehra, Chicago, USA
Jay Sai Ram

I want to share my experience of Baba's Grace with all the Sai Devotees. I came to the US in August last year. In Dec'97 I had a severe surgery, which due to Baba's Grace been averted or else, it would have resulted in greatest disaster of my life. I had some brain surgery and today I am very fine and doing my well-provided job here. I went into severe depression at one stage and got worried about my finances about the surgery(about 38,000 US dollars).But I was blessed enough to handle this by his Faith and support. I was having sleeplessness and after reading Shri Sai Satcharita I was relieved from my tensions and started getting good sleep. Just after completing my Parayan saptah, I found changes. Now before sleeping I always remember the shaved procession of Shri Baba Maharaj. I have started believing that Baba pulls his devotees from far away under many pretexts. I bow to Shri Baba Maharaj for his bountifulness that he has showered by saving my life and giving me new birth. I could not understand Baba initially and thought bad about him, but later I really realized the greatness of His Baba's Wisdom that how intelligently He brought me to US for my Surgery and in this wake I came to Know of Baba's love for his devotees. It is true that we really lack faith and patience to see him. However, one who has both will definitely experience in daily lives.
I prostate before Shri Sai Ram and asks the other disciples to believe that whatever he does is only for Our benefit and Baba's love is much more grater than we can ever think of. I continue to pray Baba to increase my devotion and reverence and tread me on a moral path with strength and courage. JAY Sai Ram.
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Devotees say...

Paritosh Kaul, NY, USA
Please accept my pranams and prayers on setting this page. The bhajan section is outstanding. I am sure Baba is working through all of you. May He bless us all
He is with you and working through you be sure of that.

Prem Desai and Sannidhi Desai
I came to know about this site today only & immediately visited site called www.saibaba.org I was really pleased after going through said site. I sincerely appreciate the kind of job you are doing. Hoping to have more information about Shree Sai Baba on the same site. One more request, that we cannot download any of the information/pictures from the site. If you can do the same, will be of great help.
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Sai Activities

Sai Samsthan USA informs us that limited numbers of sponsorships for Mahasamadhi Pooja on October 1, 1998 are still available. The sponsorships are also accepted in absentia. Maha Prasad and Kalasa from the 108 Kalasa Mahasamadhi pooja will be forwarded to the individual sponsor in absentia. Please visit Sai Samsthan, USA for more details.

Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Center Inc., New Jersey, USA has scheduled its Mahasamadhi Program on October 1, 1998. The program include, Pooja, Bhajans, and Arti and will be from 7.00 PM to 9.00 PM. Please contact Kumad Sachdev, Secretary, SHRI SHIRDI SAI BABA CENTER NJ, USA at (732)257-1438 for more details.

Shri Shirdi Sai Satsang Group has scheduled its Mahasamadhi Program on October 3rd, 1998 from 11.00am to 2.00pm at the Ved Mandir. Mahaprasad will be served after Saibaba's Aarti followed by Hanuman Chalisa, Sai Bavni and Sai Palki. Please contact (732)821-0404 for information and directions. For more information, contact Nipul Patel at (732)525-2502.
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