YadaThyaGathaM ThejoJagadsayaThye KhiLam!

YaCchanDramSi YaCchaGno ThaThyeJo Vidhi MamKam!!

The light in the sun, that illuminates the entire solar world and that which shines in the moon and that too which shines in the fire, know that light to be MINE. (Srimad Bhagavad Gita Chapter 15, Verse 12)

The luminous rays of God shine forth on the universe through the benevolent eyes, words, and actions of a Guru. Gurus presence is essential for spiritual success of a man. Guru is none other than the God Himself who descended down in the form of a perfect Master to guide man in order to help him to attain his goal. The relationship between a Guru and a disciple is highlighted in many sacred books and mythology. Instances can be drawn from the relationship between, Rama and Hanuman, Krishna and Arjuna, Eklavya and Dronacharya, Socrates and Pluto. The relationship between each of them is established for a common purpose, i.e., establishment of Dharma, proving the victory over evil and most importantly to show the world how a relationship should exist between the guru and the disciple. There is a mutual dependency and co-existence in the guru and disciple relationship. One cannot exist without the presence of the other. The work of guru is completed only when disciple follows him with implicit obedience and complete faith.

In Bhagvad Geeta - Chapter IV, 7-8, lord Krishna mentions that Guru is his form and God responds to people in the form of a guru. He also mentions the fact that Mission of the Saints is to establish dharma, protect the virtuous and destroy the evil. Saints or Gurus are the representatives of the god on the earth who after untold austerities and self-control have become one with the infinite. Guru is benevolent too, as he has crossed the ocean of sansar to achieve the highest realm he is aware of the hindrances and turmoil a sadhak goes through in order to be united with the infinite.

Hence, this benevolence makes the Guru to run after his children who have sought protection of his love in spite of their constant failures. Guru always stands by his disciple come what may, and he is ever ready to lift the person and embrace him to His heart whenever there is repentance. Hemadpant clearly mentions in Satcharita that the Sadguru first looks to the intense feeling and devotion of his devotees, and then when He thinks it is right endows them with knowledge and eternal bliss 'based on the qualifications of His disciples; and then gives them suitable instructions, without unsettling their minds in the least, and leads them on towards the goal of self-realization'. The greatness of Rama and Krishna have been highlighted only because of the hard work of their gurus who have trained them and helped them overcome the workings of Maya and set them in the right direction to achieve the purpose of their avatars.

The purity and sincerity of the guru is recognized when God shows His grandeur through Guru by bestowing Him with God like qualities. Such persons have the knowledge of the world in their whole being. A person who truly and strictly follows the sayings of a Guru or calls himself as a true follower or has read sacred books should know that God/Guru never liked haughtiness in His followers and utterly disliked when people ridiculed others practices or saints while praising their own guru. Man is ignorant; it is not for us to judge the qualifications of a guru. The merit of his actions, which is accumulated over a period of time through selfless service, is of no use when man belittles other gurus or people. A sincere follower would realize that God dwells in all beings and ridiculing one person is equal to ridiculing his own guru.

The heart of a guru is pierced when his children or followers behave contrary to the teachings of the Sadguru and indulge in defamation of other gurus or saints. It is only when man acknowledges that God, Guru and the disciple are one form with different bodies and each is dependent on the other and they exist only to serve one another, only such man is worthy to be called as 'true follower' of Guru.

Guru helps disciple in attaining all the chief objectives of life such as dharma, artha, kama and moksha and suppresses his ego, which is the root cause of all pain. Guru is like a tide whose magnificent presence causes ripple of sensation among the spiritual seekers. But only those who are sincere in their quest for attaining moksha, such person would touch the shore and will finally merge with the infinite after evaporating in the warmth of the Gurus glance. Rests of them fade away before reaching the shore. The easiest and simple way to earn Sadguru's grace is by following His instructions, be egoless, humble and treat everybody with respect knowing that our every action causes immense pain to guru with our adverse actions. It is up to the follower to keep the luminous light of life emerging from guru constantly flowing by right conduct and action.

(Contributed by Anitha Kandukuri, Cannabera, Australia)
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Contributed Article: SRI SAI GURUCHARITRA -Chapter I(Continued from Last week..)

Chandorkar and others were drenched in the happy rain of Baba's instruction. Chandorkar saluted Baba reverently with folded hands and said, "Oh thou the delight of the devotee! Thou full moon who casts his cool rays to give comfort to thy devotees! Thou ocean of all knowledge! Please remove our ignorance and give us knowledge. Who is God? How does he seem? Where does he live? What should we do to achieve his darsan? If this world is evanescent and temporary, why should we be immersed in these day-to-day worldly affairs? Please teach us the secrets behind these seemingly irreconcilable facts." Baba kindly replied, "I will tell you the answers to these questions on another day. Now you must hasten back to your place at once, without losing even a second."

One of the devotees who had accompanied Chandorkar was, Ganesh Vishnu Bere. He was the District Agricultural Officer. He had come to Shirdi especially for Baba's darsan. His sole desire was to spend some time in Baba's august presence. Chandorkar saluted Baba and conveyed Bere's desire to him. Baba said, "Whatever be the reason for your coming here, you must leave at once. Do not tarry a second. Do not waste any more time. Go post-haste to Kopergaon in a horse cart for your train." Chandorkar and Bere had full faith in Baba's words. They left immediately for Kopergaon in a horse-cart. They hurried the driver of the cart and asked him to drive the horse faster so as to obey Baba's instructions to the letter. On the way, they passed another horse cart wending its way at a leisurely pace. The occupants cried out, "What is your hurry, relax and let the horse go a little slowly. There is plenty of time for the train. Do not run like a deer trying to escape a tiger." Bere did not pay any attention to this but asked his cart man to drive the horse even faster. Chandorkar and Bere soon crossed the Godavari River and reached the railway station.

They later came to know that the horse cart, which was coming slowly behind them, was waylaid by highway robbers. Not only did they lose their money but had suffered injuries too as they were beaten by the thugs. The police too had enquired into the matter. Bere was thankful to Baba on hearing this news. He prayed in his mind, "Oh Sadguru, you have saved me, your child. Now I understood why you hurried us and made us leave immediately." He mentally thanked Baba whole heartedly for saving him from harm.

There was a Brahmin of the Vasista Gotra in Poona. His hair had whitened with age. He was rich, of the landed class. He was also of a kindly disposition. He was spiritually inclined and performed his puja regularly with all due ceremony. He was a worshipper of fire and used to daily worship it. His name was Hari Pant. His wife died suddenly. He was worried as to how he was going to do the fire worship without his wife. He did not have any children too. His estate was vast. But he did not wish to marry again as he had crossed fifty years of age. "Please marry again. If you try and search for a good girl you will find one. By the dint of sincere effort one can find even God, say the sastras," said the villagers to him. Hari Pant also was intrigued by the idea but did not make serious efforts to search for a bride for his second marriage. "To grow a crop without water, to have progeny without a wife - how are they possible," rued Hari Pant. He used to tell all who visited him, "If my prayers fructify and Baba blesses me, I will marry a girl with good qualities. Let the people laugh if they wish at me. I have crossed fifty years of age. I am not certain that I will get a child even if I marry at this age. Even them, I will definitely marry and get progeny if Baba once blesses me."

Once that Brahmin went to Shirdi and had the darsan of Sri Sai Baba. Baba said, "Oh Hari you are indeed a fortunate man. Marry soon. You will get a male child by the grace of that kind almighty. Your wishes will come true. Do not doubt or hesitate. That Bholanath, the god with the trident as his weapon, that god with the moon as an ornament on his head, that almighty is by your side protecting you." Everyone was happy at Baba's words. They said, "It is a good augury for Hari Pant that he got Baba's blessings." Hari Pant said, "If the astrologers too agree, I will marry immediately." He left for his village. The Astrologers too agreed that as per the planetary positions and his birth star the time was propitious for him to marry. He got married as Baba had instructed. By Baba's grace, even the long dead log of wood, fit only for the fire, will again bud and blossom forth. The millet has grown to knee length. If Baba's grace falls in the shape of sufficient rain and under the benign influence of a gentle wind, will the crop not give a good yield? Hari Pant, the orthodox Brahmin, gained full belief in Baba. He saluted the most powerful Baba with reverence and gratitude. Baba is a mountain of mercy. He is the full moon shining gloriously in the sky of pure knowledge. He is the wish fulfilling chintamani, who grants whatever the devotee wishes for. By the regular remembrance of his holy feet, all dangers and troubles vanish. Do not forget Baba even in your dreams. You will obtain his grace fully. All weal will be yours. That kind Baba will clasp us all to his heart with an embrace of pure love.

Who diligently reads this history of Sri Sai Baba with love, daily will be protected by the almighty lord. This is the truth. The next chapter is very serious, grave and critical. It teaches the essence of the three types of purushartha. You will obtain all the purusharthas by the serious reading and following of the guidelines set in that chapter. Please listen to the childlike speech of Dasganu and kneel in reverence in front of Sri Sai Baba. All your desires will be fulfilled by that great mahatma. Dasganu is singing this song from 'Bhakta leelamrit' giving you the details of Baba's history without seeking any personal gain. This history is holy. The sins of those who study it are destroyed. The Almighty god will always be by their side to protect and cherish them.

The history of Sri Sai Baba contained in "Bhakta Leelamrit" is very holy. It is the divine ambrosia. The servant of Sri Sai Baba, Dasganu humbly requests you all to partake of the ambrosia to your hearts' content. Weal be to all

This is the end of the chapter 31 of 'Bhakta Leelamrit' written by Dasganu Maharaj.

(Contributed by Source: "Sri Sai Gurucharithra" originally by Santkavi Sri Dasganu Maharaj. Translated from Telugu version by Sri SVL)
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Experiences of Devotees:

Venkat Shan
Couple of months back we had my cousin from Chicago. We were all having a good time when I noticed that my son had two scars in his face that he never used to have. We all looked at him it looked at the scar. It looked like a scar that happens when hot oil falls over the skin. My cousin's wife said it has been there since morning but none of us noticed him to be near the kitchen when any body was cooking. I had my own fears that it could be something like Chicken Pox. I have been blessed to read Satcharitra since last year. I was also blessed to visit Shiridi last year. I am immediately applied some Udi that I had brought from Shiridi in his forehead. My cousins were watching me and I gave them too. We all slept and woke up. To everyone surprise, there was no scar on my sons face the next day. The great SAI MAHARAJ saved him and removed all our worries. We are blessed to have the blessings of SAI. We offer our koti nameskarams to you at your Holy Lotus Feet Baba

Shoba
Om Sai Ram. Thank you baba for all that you have done till date and I also hope that you will be there throughout my last breath. My experience about yesterday was tremendous & excellent. I was very must disappointed for the last two days coz my parents have seen a proposal for me & the groom lives in Germany & all the members of his family & my family have accepted but on a condition that this groom will be coming in the month on October to India to meet me & he & I should like each other so that my family can go ahead with marriage. In addition, he & me were chatting almost every day & I liked him. But for a surprise, I did not get any invite for a chat from him & I thought that the groom did not like me so he is not responding also for my messages sent. Then I strongly prayed to my sai ram that today being Thursday I should get some kind of a response from him & if so I would write an article on my experience. At last, this Thursday I got the response from him & he said that he was very busy with his work & had no time to chat & was very sorry. I strongly believe in my Sai baba a lot and I would also pray to Baba that this groom should become my husband. Please all the devotees pray for me that my dream should come true. Om Jai Sai Ram.

Sudha Chandrasekhar
My mother experienced Baba's miracle this week, which I would like to recount to devotees. During her last two trips to Shirdi, she bought copies of the Satcharita in English to do Parayanam. Unfortunately, both copies had several chapters missing. About 3 weeks ago, I emailed the Shirdi Sansthan and requested them to kindly look into this matter, as she was unable to complete the Namasaptaha. Shirdi Sansthan immediately replied, apologizing for the error, and said they were dispatching two copies of the Satcharitha by airmail with Baba's blessings. These books have not yet arrived. In the meantime, we are undergoing some other difficulty for which my mother is reading the Satcharitha using the existing books. She was mentioning that perhaps we should combine the chapters from the two books so that we can have one complete version of the text. On Wednesday she was reading the book where she had previously written on the front cover that chapters 9-13 were missing. On opening the text, all the missing chapters were completely present and a dried rose petal (which had been given in Shirdi) flew from the book into her right hand! We are confident that this is Baba's way of saying our difficulties will be solved.
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Devotees say...

Usha Vijayaraghavan
Dear readers, There is no doubt Baba is always with us in all moments of joy and grief. This time during our holiday visit to India, I had to undergo a sudden surgery. Just before the surgery, one day when I standing in the verandah, feeling very tensed about the whole thing, suddenly something very sharp came pricked me in my hand. Soon after that sting, the first thing, which came to my mind, was the scorpion sting in Satcharitha. I felt that the whole poison in my body was removed by our LORD. The day I went to hospital to book a room for my surgery, a man with a white dhoti and white shirt, and gray beard came to my doorstep and asked for alms. Since I was too tensed, I asked my son telling him to go away. After a sudden thought, I gave my son Rs. two to be given to him. When my son went to give him, he said I don't want money, I want only food, and I am feeling hungry. I really felt so moved, and immediately went and got for him two slices of bread with jam, and a glass of buttermilk. He took the bread and told he did not want buttermilk because he had sore throat. My inner voice told me that it was none other than our BABA who had come to reassure me that 'WHY FEAR, WHEN I AM HERE". After a week, I got my pathology results showing that everything is fine. "SWAMI, YOU ARE ANTARYAMI, YOU ARE ALWAYS THERE IN TIMES OF JOY AND GREIF" THANK YOU SO MUCH, WE SEEK YOUR BLESSINGS, AND PLEASE HELP US TO HAVE STEADFAST DEVOTION AND FAITH IN YOU ALWAYS. WE REMAIN AT YOUR LOTUS FEET ALWAYS.

Prof Sandep Ubhayakar
Om Sai Sri Sai Jai jai Sai. Many thanks for sending me Sai Vichhaar regularly It has helped me develop spiritually.

Lakshmi
Glory and Praise be to Our Lord Sai! I am very happy to share this wonderful news with all the Sai brethren. A month or two ago, I had written in the Prayer Club about my nephew who was undergoing his merchant navy course in Australia. He had just one chance left for him to successfully complete his orals. At that point of time, I had written with a lot of tension and worry and had asked for Our Baba’s blessing and for your prayers. Moreover his visa was expiring by end of September. I am very happy to state here that he has passed his orals successfully and will be back in India this week. His family is ecstatic and their faith and devotion has been well rewarded. We are planning a visit to Shirdi now to worship Baba in his own place. Thanks to Our Lord who has wrought this miracle and thanks to all you devotees of Sai who took time to say a prayer for us.
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Prayer Club:

Navneet Mathur
Om Sairam Sai sisters & brothers, my father has been diagnosed with a secondary cancer in the bones. This was done more than a month ago. Until date, they have not been able to find out where the primary is from. He's undergoing Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy at Hyderabad. Last week after the third dose of radiation, he developed distension of the abdomen, became breathless, and had to be shifted into the ICU. Since then, he's been in the ICU. I request all Sai sisters and brothers to pray to Baba on behalf of our family for his speedy recovery from the illness.

Bharathi
Dear Baba, my father was here in the United States to help me with my children. He had a heart attack and had to go back to India without surgery. He is getting a surgery done shortly. Please help him to come out of it successfully know you have helped me before baba and I am sure you will help my family now. Please Baba bring back the peace in my house.

Surya Pandruvada
Om Sai Ram. Please help me in this important juncture as you always do. My life is indebted to you. Om Sai Ram!

K. Subramanian
Om Sai Sri Sai Jai Jai Sai. I have written few times about my mental agony here. But I do not know why Sai Maharaj is not listening to my prayer? Why he is not showing mercy on me?

I have been facing back problem since Dec-2002. Though I have consulted seven doctors, I am not getting relief. As a devotee said, the doctor of doctors is Sai Maharaj. Why he is keeping me away from Him?

Since the same period, I have been suffering from setback in my career. In the current company, am not given due respect or recognition. People are taking me for a ride and putting all blames on me. I do not have peace of mind at work. I am feeling very low of me. Also, I tried few companies outside. I had a very big hope from one MNC that I will be selected. But today I got a rejection mail. No mental peace in the current place and no way to go for a new job also. I feel that I am being cornered by fate. Why our Sai Maharaj is not blessing me? I feel like crying. I am crying. Getting a feel that why should I live in the world. I do not want a huge amount of salary but a good job and role where I can work very well with confidence. Please Baba, I beg you. Please save me and bless me. These days I am not having a pleasing relationship with my family and relatives due to my inferior feeling. Please do some miracle and change me to be a better person to work very well in the organization that you choose for me. Friends, please pray for me to Sai Maharaj. Om Sai Sri Sai Jai Jai Sai

A Sai devotee
SaiBaba. I am sorry for my behavior in India. I wont let this happen again. I promised that I would follow whatever you have told. But I broke my promise. I am sorry Saibaba. Baba please take care of my son. I am worried about him. Next week he is to going to my parents. I am worried how they will look after him. Please Baba be with him. Baba see that he will join me in March or April 2005.Baba bless me with a job. Baba bless my family and see that me n my husband doest get separated. Thanks for whatever u have given me.

Achuta Ramaiah
My father told me that if you pray for your enemies and those whom you hate the hate automatically melts down. It is true I have prayed for them and they have in fact contacted me thru you. Pl baba I pray for the good of my enemies and I request you to look after my daughters/sons in laws, my wife and grand children. Please Baba I will be very grateful. I ask you to look after my wife she has lot of pain in her left knee. She is brave and does not tell. I pray to you look after her.

A devotee
Shirdi Sai Baba Namo Namah...I would like to pray for my brother and his wife. They are having some conjugal problems. With your kind blessings any kind of problems will melt away so baba please bless them so that they can be happy and are blessed with a healthy child .My mother is always worried about my brothers. Her health is also so so .So please Baba shower your love on them.

Sai Devotee
Om sri Sadguri Sri Shirdi Sainath Maharaj ki Jai. Sainatha, Please show me a way to support my family. We recently had some commitments and please help me find a job to support the family with no obligations and able to share my salary for the people who are in need from whatever you give me. Please make me concentrate more on you and my prayers/meditation and let me have more Sraddha and Saburi. Sarvey jana sukhino bhavatu. Please help the people in need and hungry. I'll do my part in doing it. Om sri sai ram.

Surya
Om sai Ram.. Whatever I achieved in life is through your blessing only Sai, and Baba please never leave me alone as I cant live without your support. Baba, help me and my wife in this important juncture of our life.

Devotee
Om Jai Sairam. Please baba remove health problem of my mother and give your endless blessings to her and all of us. Om Jai Sairam

Devotee
I am always please with youthat you are showering your bless to me and my family. Since you know there are no one to think about my marrige and getting older. Could you please arrange someone for me. I think now I should get married and settle my new life.
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Quotation of the Week:
"If you avoid rivalry and dispute, God will protect you"-Sai Baba
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Question of the Week:

Q. What is "rinanubandha"?
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Sai Activities:

Mahasamadhi celebrations in Chicago, USA
Shirdi Sai Temple of Chicago and Suburbs invites you to Baba,s Punyathithi celebrations from Thursday August 21st to Saturday August 23rd 2004. The Thursday program includes Mahaabhishek, Sai Homam, Vishnu Saharanama Homam, Mahalaxmi pooja, Saraswati pooja, Durga pooja, Satcharita parayan, Zoli program, reading of Holy scriptures, Palkhi procession, bhajans, aarthi and more. For full program details, directions and other details please visit http://www.saibaba.org/temple.html

Shirdi Sai temple is open daily from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm. Daily program includes Kakad Arathi at 7am followed by Abhisek. Madhayana Arathi at 12 noon, Dhoop arathi at 6pm and Shej Arathi at 9pm. 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.

Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Minnesota - Mahasamadhi Celebrations 2004
Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Minnesota, invites you to join Saibaba Mahasamadhi Celebrations on October 23, 2004 at Geeta Ashram, Brooklyn Park, MN from 5 PM to 9 PM. The program includes Abhishek, Vishnu Sahasranaama, aarthis, parayan, kids program, bhajans and kirthans, and Palki procession followed by Mahaprasad. Please visit www.hamaresai.org for more details. Devotees from outside Twin Cities of Minnesota, who want to participate in the celebrations, please contact hamaresai@yahoo.com for accommodation

Shirdi Sai Mahasamadhi and Dassera Celebrations in Bay Area, CA
We welcome all of you with family, to join us for Shirdi Sai Mahasamadhi and Dassera celebrations in the Bay Area, CA on October 23rd (Saturday) in Sunnyvale between 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Venue: Las Palmas Park Building, 850 Russet Drive, Sunnyvale, CA (Located off of Remington Dr. and Spinosa Dr.) For more details send email to saibandhu@yahoo.com or call 408-255-1235.

Shirdi Sai Mahasamadhi and Dassera celebration in Sydney, Australia
Shree Shirdi Sai Sansthan Sydney invites you with family and friends to join Dusserah and Baba's Punyatithi (Mahasamadhi) day on 15th, 17th & 22nd October 2004 at 420 Liverpool Road, Strathfield South, NSW 2136, Australia. For detailed programme or Sansthan's activities, please contact Sansthan Info-Line at 0500 524 724.
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