The glory of Shirdi Sai is spreading across the globe at an amazing speed. Shirdi Sai is today a phenomenon. It may well be that our great grandchildren take Shirdi Sai to be a myth and fictious character in the ages to come. Much of what is known to Sai devotees is primarily through Satcharita and a few other books. The need of the hour is to scientifically research and document the life of Shri Sai and His influence on the lifes of his followers as happening today even after so many years of his Mahasamadhi. It is popularly believed that Shri Sai Baba Sansthan and its official publication Sai Leela were the first efforts towards publishing information of Shri Sainath.

New research by shraddheya Sri C.B.Satpathy has shown that in 1916 even before Baba's leaving of mortal coil an organization was initiated by Mr Sathe (of Sathe wada fame) called the Dakshina Bhiksha Sansthan to manage and organize the events in Shirdi. A magazine by name "Sai Prabha" was first issued in April 1916 which was bilingual in English and Marathi. Details of research study and more on what it means for Sai devotees can be found in an article in the magazine "Heritage of Shirdi Sai" issued dated October 2004.

Future generations may well demand documentary evidence of Shri Sai's existence and his role in today's society. It is imperative that such rare and important documents being found be preserved for posterity. All Sai devotees should wish and pray that such an effort be underway without any controversies, discussions and delay.
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Contributed Article: Taking to the Forests

Is running away from the daily world the only solution for a person that is not in a position to detach himself from the worldly affairs? Somdev did such a thing. He reached Shirdi after his pilgrimage to Kedarnath and saw Baba's grandeur, flags and chariot, and devotees flocking around Sainath. With questions about Baba's detachment and feeling proud about his achievement in being away from the family, Somdev approached Baba with a contempt that was not uncommon with the doubting Thomases of those days in Shirdi. Baba struck at him straightaway, without any compassion said, "get that rascal away!" Somdev was puzzled, his pride running watery. Later, Baba, the one who knew past present and future, reprimanded Somdev for running away from his family in search of deliverance, and let out the words of wisdom; there is nothing more sinful than renunciation as a means to escape from inability and weakness. In fact, such an act amounts to selfishness!

Sri Ammula Sambasiva Rao in his "Life History of Shirdi Sai Baba" narrates an incident involving Nana Chandorkar and Sadguru Sainath as follows:
One's closeness to Baba was the result of good deeds over many births, and such a person was Nana Chandorkar. He learnt many things from Baba. He found this samsara (worldly life) to be like a fearful ocean. The samsara appeared to him like an obstacle to his spiritual progress. He learnt this truth by practical experience. In the year 1918, one day when Baba was alone, Nana said to Him, "Baba, I am finding the samsara very fearful. My mind is not interested in worldly affairs. Somehow, give me salvation from this worldly affairs". On hearing this Baba smiled and said, "There is some truth in what you said. But the remaining is untruth and meaningless. You are under the impression that by taking to forests, one can escape from trials and tribulations of the samsara. But this is not correct. It is only an illusion, because wherever you go, your body and mind are with you only. They will never leave you but will be giving you some kind of happiness. Our past actions are the basis for our present troubles and happiness. They should be faced courageously and with tact, and you should lead a family life in the proper way. By getting away from samsara, one cannot attain happiness. Everyone who proceeds in the spiritual way will have to face all these problems and to think of renunciation (escape) as a solution is not correct". This is the message of Baba.

(Contributed by Sai devotee)
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Experiences of Devotees:

Venkat
I would like to share my first experience with all the devotees. In 1992, I was trying for opportunities in the Gulf countries through known people. One day my father was asked me to visit his friend, who is staying other side of city so that I will get some help from him. One fine day I thought I would visit him today and handover my documents to him. I got into bus and got down at Secunderabad to catch other bus. Suddenly I realized I need to take photocopies for some of the documents and went to nearby shop and taken the photocopies and taken bus to visit my father's friend. I have given all my documents and returned home. After a month or so my mother was cleaning up my Almairah (Wardrobe) and found out my passport was missing. She asked me immediately and I do not have any clue about that. After thinking a lot, I realized I might have forgotten my passport in the Photocopier shop. As I was just started praying baba and visiting his temple. As I heard if we leave our favorite food then we can see the results in no time. Immediately I went to pooja room and prayed to Baba that I would stop eating Non-vegetarian food on Thursday. Its almost a month and I'm trying different ways to get the duplicate passport. One fine day, my father received a post card and surprisingly the post card was from photocopier shop. He asked us to come and collect the passport. My father immediately rushed to the shop and collected passport. When I returned home, I came to know this and I was totally amazed and felt very happy. From that day onwards I am praying Baba with more devotion. Sai, my humble sashtanga namaskaras to You.

Sharmila
My humble salutations to my Lord Sai. Baba, my only prayer is to beg You to bless the whole world. Let the world rest in peace, happiness and devotion towards the divine. Let Your mercy rule over the world; let Your feet become the sole essence of our meditation. Let human birth remain a boon on this earth plane. I would like to convey my heart through my dream about Sai. There were few people in a big hall and I was sitting alone to a side. There I saw one old person walking around and speaking to a few. I thought to myself- Is that Shirdi Baba? If so, He would definitely bless me with His presence near me. Lo, as these thoughts crossed my little mind, Baba in no time approached me and I placed my hands on His divine feet and prayed within twice- 'Lokaa samastaa sukhino bhavantu.' Then Baba was about to leave but looked at me again with eyes full of grace, being full of pure love. He looked at me as if He was asking if I wanted anything. I looked into His eyes and said- 'Baba, andarnee challagaa choodandi'- meaning to say- Look upon all with mercy. His eyes seemed as if He was to grant me that boon as His feet made a move.
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Devotees say...

A Sai devotee
I would like to request all the Sai Devotees not to put condition to Sai, (saying you give me this and in return I will do this.) I think we have some amount of good merits in our past births, that's the reason we are in the safe hands of Sai, just pray to Sai, just say Sai every time you get time, He will take care of the rest, then say your experience or thanks to Sai in this newsletter or wherever you feel like. Talk to him as a friend, Guru and whatever you feel like. That is where you will reach the next level. Thanks very much Sai for your blessings.

Kanthy
I had nothing with me at one moment. Totally paralyzed to some extent, personal life rocked and just was lying like a Dead Stone. When Baba lifted me, gave me the strength. Whole new life with everything to live on. It was almost like a rebirth with everything that even I could not have dreamt. Then he gave a very respectful job, which is just his blessing; else, I don't think I would be able to touch it. He has blessed me with the most understanding, loving and caring husband. I just pray to Baba to give me more strength and courage that I shall be able to do more good things in my life and be of some difference to someone needful in this world so that he shall feel proud to have blessed me with this rebirth.

Anju
Sai Ram, You have helped me in passing the test. You gave me strength and confidence. You were the only hope for me. I am very happy now. Thanks a lot Baba.

Saveen
The mystical presence of Sai in my life is something that I cannot describe in these few lines. I always felt it and continue to experience that; why that a person like me can who is so uneven, insensitive, selfish, and everything bad survive. It is only because of his blessings, even though, I am only partially dedicated to him, only spiritually, but not that complete surrender and I am only looking for that day when I can fully surrender to his feet. I pray to Sai to give me enough strength to be your true bhakta in every ways and help achieve that complete Nirvana in your (Baba's) lotus foot. Bless me Sai Ram and I am so sorry that I am sharing it after a long period time, though I promised it earlier.

Sai devotee
It has happened so many times in our life when we find it is getting tough in our life to over come problems. We start praying for you and request you to bless us to get over the problem and you are always there to help us in getting over the problem. The same has happened in locating a bridegroom for my daughter also. Thank you Dear Sai for helping us in locating a nice bridegroom who is down to earth and Thank you for the same as you have given me a chance to thank you for your eternal help.
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Prayer Club:

Sumana
Baba you know that I came out of depression and again started praying to god and doing pooja every day. Please Baba I cannot face suffering any more take care of my daughter and me. You know that now my daughter does not have father and for both of us you are the only one who takes care of us. You should give moral, physical, and financial security to us. I am writing my exams please see that I successfully complete the whole program and find a good job. Take care of my daughter.

Krishnaveni
Baba you know what is going on in our family. Please see to that everything goes successful and let my sister get married as soon as possible.

A Sai devotee
Baba Please help me out of this work problem. Help me to find a job where I would have happiness, good salary and career. Please solve my marriage problem, Find me the love of my life. Please shower with blessing. I have no one without You.

Ramkumar
We request you sincerely and earnestly to pray to our beloved Sai with open heart that what we fear of must Not Be True and my heart should be perfectly normal and let our dear Sai accept our humble prayer, forgive all our sinful deeds in this as well as past lives and save us from this calamity as he has done always.

Bhanumati
Aum Sri Sairam! Baba, Please bless me to get married as early as possible to a very nice and honest person.

Devika
Baba please be with me and get me this job. It is a job opening, which suits my qualification and experience. But Baba every time my talent will not be enough for the firm. They will find some fault. Even my language becomes a big prob. Baba this time please be with me and help me to get the job.
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Quotation of the Week:
"I am not bothered whether or not God has come in the form of Sai Baba - to me, Sai Baba is God!"-Sri Sarath Babuji
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Question of the Week:

Q. What is the importance of khandoba temple in Satcharitha?

A. by Meenakshi Kumar

Sairam to all Sai devotees, Shree Sai first alighted in Shirdi at the Khandoba temple. Khandoba is lord Shiva. Bhagat Mahalasapathi invited Sai saying ya Sai, Sai means SA: Sakshata I: Ishwara, or Sakhata Ishwara/ Shiva. Mahalsapathi also means husband of Mahalasa, which is husband of Parvathi, or in other words Shree Lord Shiva himself! In other words, lord Shiva himself alighted at his own temple and a devotee of Shiva himself invited him to enter the temple. Beautiful coincidences as our beautiful Sainath!
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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.

Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Minnesota
Regular Sai activities in Minneapolis, St.Paul area are being conducted at Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, 725 Lake St NE, Apt #139 Hopkins MN. For details, please contact hamaresai@yahoo.com, or call Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center at 952-938-2983, and to read the monthly newsletter Sai Sandesh, visit www.hamaresai.org.

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 Satsang, Bay Area, California
Shirdi Sai Parivaar invites all to join us for Satsang every Thursday 7:30 pm at Odd Fellows Temple, 20589 Homestead Road, Cupertino, CA 95014. For details please call 408-564-6704 or send email to saibandhu@yahoo.com or visit www.ShradhaSaburi.org.

Sai Satsang, New Jersey, USA
Shirdi Sai Dham, Inc regularly conducts Sai bhajans followed by Aarti and Parsad on every 1st Saturday of each month at Durga Mandir, Kendall Park, New Jersey from 3 pm to 5 pm (Winter Hours). All are requested to kindly come and receive Baba's blessings. For more information, please call us at 609-275-1334 or visit www.shirdisaidham.org or email us at shirdisaidham@hotmail.com

Shirdi Sai Satsang, Toronto, Canada
Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan invites all to join for satsangs every Thursday 7:00 pm at Sai Dwarkamai, 147 Winston Castle Dr. Markham, Ontario, L6C 2N4, phone 416-402-8089 or email: saileela99@yahoo.com. To request a pooja for yourselves, your friends and family for any occasion at your residence, please call. Devotees can request udi or Holy water (Abhishek Jal) from the Holy bathing of Baba by sending us an email or by phone.

Shirdi Sai Mandir, Scarborough, Canada
The Shirdi Sai Mandir located at 2721 Markham Road, Scarborough, Ontario, M1X 1L5 (Intersection of Markham and Nashdene) is open Monday to Friday from 6:30 p.m to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday from 10:30 a.m to 8:30 p.m. Dhoop Aarti is at 7:30 p.m. everyday. Bhajans are on Saturday from 5:00 p.m. onwards. For other temple activities and information please call 647-444-4724 or send an email to info@theshirdisaimandir.com.

Shirdi Sai Satsang in Vancouver, BC, Canada
Shirdi Sai parivar in Vancouver invites you for bhajans, every Thursday (6:30pm - 7:30 pm) at 8571, 118A Street, Delta, V4C 6L2. For further details contact Ritu (604)592 4182 or email at sai_ish@hotmail.com.

Sai Satsang, Singapore
To all Shirdi Sai Baba devotees in Singapore, Sai Sansthan, Singapore is organizing Shirdi Sai Baba prayer session every Saturday between 18:30 hrs to 20:30 hrs at 2nd floor function hall, Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman temple, (opp. to Sinda), 555, Serangoon Road, Singapore-218174. We invite you all to participate and seek Baba's blessings. For further details, please visit www.saisansthan.com.

Sai Baba Satsang in Auckland, New Zealand
Sai Baba Satsang ( Bhajans, Provochan, Sai Ashotottram and Shej Arathi ) is held every Thursday from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at MT Roskill War Memorial Hall, May Road , Mt Roskill, Auckland, NZ. For more detials visit our website http://www.shirdisaibaba.org.nz or mail to info@shirdisaibaba.org.nz.
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