In Bhagavadgita Lord Krishna said " When ever there is a decay of righteousness, O Bharata, and a raise of unrighteousness, then I manifest Myself. For the protection of the good and the destruction of the wicked and for the establishment of righteousness, I am born in every age" (IV: 7,8). The restoration of Dharma and to see that His plan is established and executed is the will of God and to this effect God incarnates or sends His messengers. To the humanity in general and to the blessed land of India in particular the period between 1850 and 1950 was an era of spiritual renaissance. Great Masters like Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Ramana Maharshi, Paramahansa Yogananda, and Shiridi Saibaba blessed different parts of the sacred land with their presence and preaching. All these Masters served the suffering humanity to mitigate their physical suffering, mental agony and spiritual thirst.

Among the above Masters Shiridi Saibaba lived closest to the masses. He lived like a fakir and servant of God with a begging bowl in His hand. He was a healer to the sick; He was a beacon post to the ignorant. With perfect examples, He showed the prevalence of the same Atma in all living and nonliving beings thus establishing the truth that God is omnipresent. Humanity and humility found their perfect expression in Saibaba. He taught the coins of Faith and patience to reach the Godhead.

After the completion of His Divine mission, He took Mahasamadhi in the year 1918 on 15 October. Does this mean that Baba left us forever and He became one with God. The fact is negative as the experiences of the devotees show His ever vigilance. His bones are speaking from His Samadhi and He is as close to His devotees as when He was with His physical body. The disappearance of His physical body no way stops the shower of blessings to His trusted devotees. After a certain destined time, the physical forms of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna too disappeared from the physical world. The same happened with Baba's body. The Nature too is created by the God and the Nature has to obey the laws of the Lord. The physical body is manifested with the combination of the five physical elements of the nature and the body formed should obey the laws of the Lord. But the Spirit of Baba transcends His bodily form. It is no wonder that Baba appears to His devotees certain times with the same body. Even immediately after His Mahasamadhi Baba resurrected (Jesus resurrected on the third day of his crucifixion) as He appeared in visions to Dasaganu, Laxmanmama Joshi, Kaka Mahajani and other devotees to confirm His ever vigilance.

Baba had chosen Vijayadasami, the day of Dasara for His Mahasamadhi. Dasara is the day of celebration of victory over the evil. On this day, Lord Rama killed Ravana to establish the rule of God. On this day Maa Durga, the Goddess of power (Shakti) killed the demon Mahishasura. To establish the fact that victory of Soul/Atman over the body, Baba had chosen this day of Vijayadasami as the day of His Samadhi. Exactly two years before the day of His Mahasamadhi, on the same day of Dasara Baba hinted the day of His Samadhi. On that, day He became furious , thrown all His clothes into Dhuni and to the fear of His nearby devotees proclaimed that that was His day of Seemollanghana(Soul crossing the boundaries of the limited body consciousness). The Mystics and Saints are selfless messengers of God to lead their sheep of followers to the Divine kingdom. It is the utmost duty of any sincere Sai devotee to become a faithful sheep to the shepherd Sai to reach our native Home.

I want to ply my boat, many times,
Across the gulf-after-death,
And return to shores of earth from my Home in Heaven.
I want to load my boat
With those waiting, thirsty ones who are left behind,
And carry them by the opal pool of iridescent joy
Where my Father distributes
His all desire-quenching liquid peace.
--Paramahansa Yogananda, "Man's Eternal Quest"

(A contribution by Syamasundar Davuluri, Houston, TX)
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Contributed Article: Hazrat Sai Roshan Ali Shah

Hazrat Sai Roshan Ali Shah 1862-1932 Sufi Mystic, Perfect Teacher (Murshid) of Hyderabad, Sindh (Pakistan) Hazrat Sai Roshan Ali Shah was born to Sai Qutab Ali Shah, who was also a Murshid, of the Jahaniyan lineage. He had spent many long years in penance and spiritual austerities in the hills and had little in married life. He considered marriage a chain around him and so prayed the Lord for relief of the bonds of married life. His wife died young, without issue. Years later, his father again asked him (Sai Qutab Ali Shah) to get married, and he declined. His father told him the following story: "Whilst I was in Darwat Hills engaged in spiritual practices, I saw in a vision a child asking me to get married. He threatened that in case I did not agree, he would burst out of my back. My associates there, too, in visions, saw a child peeping over my shoulders, sometimes from the left, sometimes from the right." That child was none other than you, and so I married and you are here." Sai Qutab Ali Shah took the hint and married again at 40. Sai Roshan Ali Shah was born in 1862. His father paid particular attention to Sai Roshan's early education and upbringing. Once, when he was about 20, Sai Roshan Ali Shah went to attend a fair in a nearby village. A woman fell in love with him. She said to him, "I love you very much". Amused at it, Sai Roshan asked, "What is it in me that has attracted you?" Instantly she replied, "I love your hair". And immediately Sai Roshan went to a barber's shop and had his head shaved, put the piece of hair in a cloth and handed it to the woman, saying, "Here is the piece you admired and loved. Please keep it with you." Then he quietly withdrew without caring any more about her. Sai Qutab Ali Shah became his son's spiritual teacher. After his initiation Sai Roshan accepted his father as preceptor his attitude and relationship was that of a seeker and preceptor, or a talib and murshid, or shishya and sadguru. Sai Roshan was highly devoted to his murshid, had deep regard for him and considered himself a non-entity before him. He learned and practiced meticulously the spiritual techniques (tariquat) under the care of his perfect master (kamil murshid), composed many spiritual poems in his honor and gave hints of the discipleship (tariquat) followed by him. In his spiritual poems (kalaam) Sai Roshan Ali Shah was to give rendition of the universal aspects of divinity found in all faiths. He believed in the identity of the Prophets and all incarnations. Whilst he had great faith in the Prophet Mohammed, he had equal faith in Ram, too. He mentions that one attains the goal with realization of Ram. For him, Ram represents the Formless, the Non-Dual. Should you wish to be a yogi, Search and find at the right place, Peep within yourself, And enter the path of love, You will attain to Ram, Face to face there, O Roshan. And Imbibe and practice rightly, Precept of the Murshid within. Grasp firmly in mind Instructions of the wise. Do not train your eyes in sleep, lest life should be a waste. He who truly follows the precept has lived rightly O Roshan, And has kept the promise with Ram. Roshan Ali Shah had the faith of Oneness of the Truth (Haq, Zaat, Atma, Brahm, etc), the Absolute and the Non Dual, which is beyond change (baqa). He taught that realization of oneness is the true goal. It implies going beyond the phenomenal world here and hereafter, it is realization of zaat, noumenon, the numinous itself. There is no mention of personal gods or multiplicity of gods in his lyrics. Nor is there any reference to rites and rituals of any kind in his lyrics. Here he expresses his craving and deep urge for realization of the Truth, and advises seekers to strive for the true goal: "If you wish to be a yogi, Be free from any duality. Contemplate the Truth In your mind constantly. Cry for the Beloved In your every breath within Then you will be blessed within With the vision of your Beloved, O Roshan. And You have spent the day In pursuit of body needs, And went early to sleep And did not wake until sunrise You have been totally oblivious Of the purpose you took birth for, And you did not contemplate the Truth Within yourself, O Roshan".

Sai Roshan Ali Shah considered Satsang - holy association, or association with saints and sages - of prime importance on the spiritual path. He composed a number of lyrics emphasizing the importance of the company of the holy and the good.

"Nectar is offered in the company of saints, Surrender your mind at their feet, Remember God, and attain purity. Fully merge yourself with love in the precept of perfect Master, March with your mind On this path, O Roshan. And Abandon faith in the material world, and join the company of Saints, Your sufferings accumulated over births Will vanish in an instant. Association with gracious saints Grants liberation from the cycle of death, He attains the Goal, O Roshan, Who is merged in this faith".

Sai Roshan Ali Shah firmly believed that seekers on the spiritual path must seek initiation under a spiritual master, murshid or satguru. The seeker must bear not merely high regard for his preceptor, he must totally surrender himself to his master, sacrifice his self before him and be truly in love with him. He must sincerely follow and adhere to the instructions of the master. (To be continued)

(Contributed by MRK, Phoenix, AZ, USA)
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Experiences of Devotees

Lincoln N, Trinidad, West Indies
Om Sai Ram, I am a Sai Devotee since I was a child, thanks to my father who is now deceased. Your Newsletter, has been a source of great inspiration to me as well as to many of my friends. It has helped me a great deal in my spiritual development, over the past few months. About 4 years ago I had the impending feeling that I was going to die, this was at the age of 24. Sai appeared to me one night and asked me what I wanted. All I could say to him is that I wanted what every one of his devotees ever wanted that was to kiss his feet. He then allowed me to do so. Sai then asked again what I wanted. I replied that I was thankful for my life that he has given me and that I know that death was close, all that I wanted was to tell him thanks for my life. He then asked again what I wanted. I then simply said that at the moment of my soul departing that if he were to place the sacred vibhuti on my lips. He smiled and said well your second son after he is married will do this for you, and then proceeded to show me this event in the future. This was indeed a mystery, since he showed me a woman who he said would be my wife and my two sons and one daughter (note: I have never been married). All I could do in reply to this was to kiss his holy feet again. When I woke up the next morning my entire mouth was covered with the sacred vibhuti. This ash was not foreign to me since I am accustomed seeing this materializing on photos at home since I was a child.

Some may say that this does not make sense, however strange enough I started having bad health a few months later, and soon lost the ability to speak. I proceeded to have surgery, where it was found that I had tumor that was shown malignant. About a month after my voice returned. My doctor commented that I was indeed very lucky. Some may say that this may have been a small problem that was easily overcome, but what made it glaringly obvious as to it's severity, was that the same doctor did the same procedure on another man on that same day, the other man died a few months later. May Sai bless his soul. I am now 28 years old, and still suffer from severe stomach, gastric, and lung problems, this has however made my faith in Sai, and God in all his forms even stronger. All I ever do is thank him for everything, and ask him to be in charge of my life. My physical heath is not of the best, but my spiritual health has grown stronger, and my faith in him has grown like a giant. I have Sai and all of the forms of God to thank for this. Therefore, I have learnt several lessons from this chain of events in my life. First, never ask God for specific things, just surrender yourself onto him, and ask him to do with you as he pleases, and that your life is in his hands. Secondly, when it comes to God one must have total and blind faith in him, since he will do what is best. Thirdly, even in hard times do not even be so presumptuous to ask him what you have done to deserve this, just try to learn from life and it's sufferings, and to simply focus on him. I am no expert in theology, scripture, or prayer, but I would like to make one small comment. I see very often a lot of people out there ask on Sai for specific things, I am of the view from personal experience that he gives us what is needed when the time is right. So, we should just leave it up to him. This however is my own personal prayer from my limited knowledge, and something that I thought that I would share with my brothers and sisters out there. May God be with everyone.
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Devotees say...

Nikathil, Australia
Do you know of Sai Baba temple/prayer group in Melbourne, Australia? If there is none I am interested to devote time for this.pl email me at nikathil@hotmail.com

N.Narasimha Rao, Hyderabad, India
The article by Shyamala Hari on the question of 'What is death?' is very interesting and convincing. We are all aware that we are not pure but still we continue to be like that. Why? Because that gives us pleasure (a sensual pleasure at that). The fact is that it is difficult to imagine the concept of eternal bliss. That is the reason why we go after sensual pleasures. We equate it with Bliss. When the water in the pot is not clean, the reflection of the sun (the Self) cannot be seen. How true? We have to keep our conscience clean, filling our mind with good thoughts. Let us never think ill of anybody. Even if you punish your child let it be out of love rather than expressing your dominance! Let us go to sleep every night with good thoughts. What I have learnt from Sai is that ' Be a spectator and watch that is unfolding in front of you and do as much good as you can'. There is no loving God like Sai.

Swapna
OM SRI SAI. The article contributed by Ravin Gnanasambandam "Did Baba preach "Just feel good" gospel?" In this article, "Baba said that none who would approach him would turn back disappointed. Did he mean that every prayer would be answered? Yes! Every prayer will receive an answer. Sometimes, the answer is "Yes", sometime, "No", and some other times, "Just Wait".... My question is, how do we know that the answer to our prayers is "Yes, No, and Just wait". Ok if our wishes are fulfilled then we say that our prayers are been answered as "Yes". But how to know that our prayers are been answered as "No" or "Just wait". Could any one please answer to my question? It may sound simple and silly but please answer.

Murali
I pray to Sai to shower his blessings on Swati (Prayer in the issue dated 11 Oct 01) I do this because similar to devotee Swati, I am devoted to Sai over three years because of my loved one. My loved one regarded her meeting with me as ordained by Sai and we had been praying to Sai for our union. In fact, we vowed to Sai that to mark our culmination of marriage we will first go to Shirdi and then we will start our married life. But as the saying goes man proposes and God disposes due to misunderstanding our relationship fell apart. My beloved's marriage is fixed though both of us could not bear this but only pray to Sai to keep us cool and wait with patience to lead a good life. If not in this birth, we sincerely pray that in future birth we may be united.

Boman
Since last few years, I have been a staunch believer of SAI BABA OF SHIRDI and everyday read the chapter of SHRI SAI SATCHARITA written by Nagesh Vasudev Gunaji as requested by the followers. This book gives the wonderful life and teachings of Shri Sai Baba, which has given me and my wife hope and love in everyday life. My daily prayer consists of SHRADDA AND SABURI AND hope and wish BABA would help me and my family from the predicament we are facing, for I want that my wife to smile once again and come close tome. THANK YOU SHRI SAI BABA.

Devi Thank you so much to all the people who are all working hard to get all of us many things about our beloved Lord SaiBaba. I am really really filled with happiness by seeing all this. I cannot be able to believe these things in front of my eyes. I am not getting words to thank you all.
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Prayer Club

Divya
Dear Sai Baba, I thank u for everything u have given me in my life, U gave me the best parents, a wonderful life and a very loving husband. I pray to u to give me the strength to be a good human being and a good wife to my husband. I am working very hard in my job but with no success, please bless me to do well and make a very good career and make my parents proud of me. Be with us in every aspect of my life.

Kanagaraj
Dear Sai Rama, you know all the problems. I want to true to everybody. I want to keep my love very happily. She should not feel any pain. Sai Rama, our action should not hurt our parents. They have to accept our marriage. Sairama, please help me. Our parents should be the happiest persons in the world. Sure, by your grace I will take care of my wife Kalpa and our parents. Give me all the power and bless me.

Presad
Dear Sai, Swami please help me getting back on my feet. I need your blessings and help to be successful in life and in perusing the right goals. Please bless us all. Loka Samasta Sukino Bhavanthu.

Renganathan, Singapore
Sainatha, bless my son and make him normal. Let me see him talking.

A Mother
Dear devotees, I am moved by so many prayer circles that you continue to support. This plea from a mother whose son is a drug addict. My son is a father of a two year old and another one on the way. He has been addicted to drugs for several years. He has been through many rehabilitation programs with little to show for it. My family has undergone lot of suffering. He has robbed us materially and mentally. He has been to prison on drug charges many times. My heart aches for my grandchildren and my daughter in law. I have done so much prayer for so many years that I have lost count. I have gone through humanly difficult prayer rituals with no relief in sight. The devotees devotion on this site and commitment to bring relief to the suffering through prayer gives me hope that HE may listen to such united prayer for my son. I humbly request that you grant me my request and do the reading of Grinding The Wheat chapter to help my son overcome his drug habit. I will indeed be very grateful if any one of you take the initiative to determine the manner the time and number of times the reading is to take place.

Derek Harrison
Hello, My prayer is a simple one. I have started a new/ own business. May Sai Baba grant me only that success that I deserve. May I serve my field and all those in it as a service to Sai.

Vandana
Baba nothing can hide from you. You know how my 2-year-old son is suffering from frequent asthma attack (bronchitis). He is too small and we have no choice other than giving him steroids to control asthma. I am not able to see his suffering. He became very sensitive to weather and food. I strongly believe in the blessings of great people. Baba you always test you people and make them believe you even stronger. I request all Sai devotees to bless my son. Whoever worships Baba, their heart is Baba's temple.

Devki Das
Dear Baba, I need your help to develop self-confidence. I am a very insecure person, possessing very little self worth. I often become depressed and have fears of abandonment. It could be because I am from a broken family. I lack educational qualification to land myself a job and am not trying also because of rejection. I have not done well in my past jobs, I also feel like a failure. I don't contribute financially to the family or take care of my own expenses. Please hold my hand Baba, Help me walk with my chin up. Love Devki

Pavan Koshal
Jai sai ram, I need prayers. I am facing problems in my marriage and I would appreciate if I could get sai's site whereby I could be prayed form. My name is Pavan Koshal and my wife's is Malika Koshal regards Pavan
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Quotation of the Week

'What Sai Baba of Shirdi began was not a new religious movement, nor did he ever seek to wean a devotee away from the faith into which he was born. On the contrary, he expressly disapproved of proselytization or 'getting yourself a new father' as he once called it. He constantly exhorted his devotees not to deprecate the religious practices and precepts of those whose beliefs differed from their own". - Perin S. Bharucha in "Sai Baba of Shirdi".

Question of the Week

Q. "What are the most important requirements for undertaking Sai Baba's activities?"
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Sai Activities

Saibaba.org, USA
Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra 2002.- actively involve yourselves in this unique nationwide prayer and benefit immensely by hosting Sai Baba's portrait in your homes. Get more details by visiting http://www.saibaba.org and follow the link to Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra 2002 page. Register early to help us work out the logistics.

Sai Mandir, Houston, TX
Recitation of Saimahima will be conducted in Houston Saibaba temple on Saturday 28the October from 0700AM to 0700PM(continuous). Sri Sainarayan Baba of Panvel Saiashram wrote Saimahima. All Sai devotees are invited to participate and get Baba's blessings. Temple address is as follows: 5645 Hillcroft, Houston, TX. For further information contact 832-251-7862, 832-251-3613, or 713-383-6501.

Shirdi Sai Trust, Shri Ratna Sai Baba Mandir,
Mekkudi Village, Manikandam Panchayat Union,
Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
On 26 October 2001, Lord Sainath Mahasamadhi Day, a marble Murti of Lord Sainath was installed and Kumbabhisekam performed. Lord Sainath Murti, Samadhi and Padukas are replica of Shirdi Mandir. A separate building, adjacent to Main Mandir, where Dwarakamayee portrait of Lord Sainath is installed.

Shri K.Ramaswamy, former President, All India Sai Samaj (Regd), Chennai, performed the first archana and special Sri Sai Sahasranama archana on this special occasion. He performed arati and distributed sweets prasad, Baba's pictures to all devotees present. Very large number of devotees from Bangalore, Mysore, Chennai and other places participated. Sri R.Radhakrishnan of Hubli and Sri Kuber of Bangalore performed "Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai" nama japa and bhajan. All the devotees received Baba's prasad. Devotees visiting this part of the country are requested to make a visit to Mekkudi village, which is 18 Kms. from Tiruchiappalli Central Bus stand and Railway station, on the Viralimalai Road and obtain the Blessings of Lord Sainath.

Vijayadasami and Baba's Maha Samadhi Celebrations, Saidarbar, Hyderabad, India.
The day's program included Abhishekam, offering of new clothes to Sainath, Puja, Noon Arati, and Annadanam at the premises of Sai Baba Mandir at Maruti Nagar, Kapra, Secunderabad. More than 350 devotees took the Meals as Sai's Prasad. In the evening, at 5.00 PM, there was Puja to Sami Tree (Jammi); Evening Arati was performed at the Temple. Saibanisa gave a talk on " Sai Ram in Ramayana". The program was interspersed by devotional songs, mellifluously rendered by Smt. & Sri Phanindra Prasad, and ended with a song on Sai Ram, the Antaryami (In-dweller). The program ended with Arati, and distribution of Sweets as Prasad.
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