Tuesday, June 30, 2020

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter VII Page 40

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

Such a unique and wonderful incarnation was Sai Baba.  On account of the merits in my past birth, I had the good fortune to sit at His Feet and enjoy His blessed company.  The joy and delight I derived therefrom was incomparable.  In fact Sai Baba was pure Anand and Consciousness.  I cannot sufficiently describe Him, His greatness and uniqueness.  He who took delight at His Feet, was established in His own self.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

Monday, June 29, 2020

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter VI Page 37

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

Another important idea occurred to Gopal Gund.  Just as he started the Urus or fair, he thought that he should put the Masjid in order.  So in order to carry out the repairs, he collected stones and got them dressed.  But this work was not assigned to him.  This was reserved for Nanasaheb Chandorkar, and the pavement-work for Kakasaheb Dixit.  First, Baba was unwilling to allow them to have these works done, but with the intervention of Mhalsapati, a local devotee of Baba.  His permission was secured.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter VI Page 37

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

First about 5000-7000 people used to collect, but that figure went up to 75000 in some years; still there was no outbreak of any epidemic disease nor any riots worth the name during so many past years.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter VI Page 37

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

It is to be noted that both the Hindus and Mahomedans have been working in unison in both the processions, and during the entire festival, and there has been no hitch or quarrel between them at all so far.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter VI Page 36

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

A beautiful horse, a palanquin, chariot and many silver things, utensils, pots, buckets, pictures, mirrors etc., were presented.  Elephants were also sent for the procession.  Though all this paraphernalia increased enormously, Sai Baba ignored all these things, and maintained His simplicity as before.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

Thursday, June 25, 2020

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter V Page 26

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

"Sada Nimbarvrikshasya mooladhiwasat.
Suddhasravinam tiktamapi-apriyam tam,
Tarum Kalpavrikshadhikam sadhayantam
Namameeshwaram Sadgurum Sai Natham"

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter IV Page 17

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

It is on account of Sai Baba that Shirdi grew into importance. Let us see what sort of a personage Sai Baba was.  He conquered this Samsar (wordly existence), which is very difficult and hard to cross.  Peace or mental calm was His ornament, and He was the repository of wisdom.  He was the home of Vaishnava devotees, most liberal (like Karna) amongst liberals, the quint-essence of all essences.  He had no love for perishable things, and was always engrossed in self-realization, which was His sole concern.  He felt no pleasure in the things of this world or of the world beyond.  His Antarang (heart) was as clear as a mirror, and His speech always rained nectar.  The rich or poor people were the same to Him.  He neither knew nor cared for honour or dishonour.  He was the Lord of all beings.  He spoke freely and mixed with all people, saw the actings and dances of Nauch-girls and heard Gajjal saongs.  Still, He swerved not an inch from Samadhi (mental equilibrium).  The name of Allah was always on His lips.  While the world awoke, He slept; and while the world slept, He was vigilant.  His abdomen (Inside) was as calm as the deep sea.  His Ashram could not be determined, nor His actions could be definitely determined, and though He sat (lived) in one place, He knew all the transactions of the world.  His Darbar was imposing. He told daily hundreds of stories, still He swervd not an inch from His vow of silence.  He always leaned against the wall in the Masjid or walked morning, noon and evening towards Lendi (Nala) and Chavadi; still He at all times abided in the Self.  Though a Siddha, He acted like a Sadhaka.  He was meek humble and egoless, and pleased all.  Such was Sai Baba, and as the soil of Shirdi was trodden by Sai Baba's Feet, it attained extraordinary importance.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter III Page 13

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

The question Who is this HE, Whose worship is advocated, is already answered in a note on "Who is Sai Baba" in the prologue, at the beginning of this work.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

Monday, June 22, 2020

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter II Page 7

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

"Let him make a collection of stories and experiences, keep notes and memos;  I will help him.  He is only an outward instrument, I should write Myself My autobiography and satisfy the wishes of My devotees.  He should get rid of his ego, place (or surrender) it at my feet.  He who acts like this in life, him I help the most.  What of My life-stories?  I serve him in his house in all possible ways, when his ego is completely annihilated and there is left no trace of it,  I myself shall enter into him and shall Myself write My own life.  Hearing my stories and teachings will create faith in devotees hearts and they will easily get self-realization and Bliss;  let there be no insistence on establishing one's own view, no attempt to refute other's opinions, no discussion of pros and cons of any subject."

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter II Page 7

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

The word 'discussion' put me in mind of my promise to explain the story of my getting the title of Hemadpant and now I begin to relate the same.  

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter II Page 7

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

He pleaded for my cause and said to Sai Baba, "This Annasaheb wishes to write Your biography, don't say that You are a poor begging Fakir, and there is no necessity to write it, but if You agree and help him, he will write or rather, Your feet (grace) will accomplish the work.  

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter II Page 7

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

I could not myself ask Sai Baba to give me permission for this work; so I requested Mr. Madhavrao Deshpande alias Shama, Baba's most intimate devotee, to speak to Him for me.  

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

Thursday, June 18, 2020

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter I Page 4

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

"I am weeping because I feel the agony of being crushed in this wheel of worldly existence like the corn  in the hand-mill.  "Nipathiranjana replied, "Do not be afraid; hold fast to the handle of knowledge of this mill, as I do, and do not wander far away from the same but turn inward to the Center, and you are sure to be saved."

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. EPILOGUE Page 260

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

May the readers and devotees get complete and whole-hearted devotion to Sai's Feet.  May His Form be ever fixed in their eyes and may they see Sai (the Lord) in all beings.  Amen!

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter L Page 257

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

Mr. Balaram Dhurandhar wrote, in Marathi, the life of the Maharashtra Saint Tukaram, but he did not survive to see its publication.  It was published, later on, by his brothers in 1928.  In a short note on Balaram's life given in the begining of the book, the above account of Balaram's visit has been fully corroborated therein.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

Monday, June 15, 2020

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter L Page 253

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

Mr. Hari Sitaram alias Kakasaheb Dixit was born in 1864 A.D., in a Vadnagara Nagar-Brahmin-family, at Khandwa (C.P).  His primary education was done at Khandwa, Hinganghat, and secondary education at Nagpur.  He came to Bombay for higher education and studied first in the Wilson College and then in the Elphinstone College.  After graduation in 1883 A.D., he passed his LL.B. and solicitor's examinations; and then served in the firm of the Govt. Solicitors., Messers Little and Co., and then, after sometime started a solicitors firm of his own.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter L Page 253

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

It is a well-established fact, that though we try hundreds of means or sadhanas, we do not attain the spiritual goal of life, unless a Sadguru blesses us with his grace. 

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter L Page 253

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

So the stories of Sai Baba come forth, in order to give solace and comfort to the readers.  Both, those, who tell; and those, who hear the stories of Baba, are blessed and holy, as also the mouths of the former and the ears of the latter.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter L Page 253

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

The sandal-wood trees, grow on the Malaya mountains and, ward off heat.  Th clouds, pour their rain-water and thereby, cool and refresh all the people.  The flowers, blossom in the spring and, enable us to worship God, therewith.  

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

Thursday, June 11, 2020

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter L Page 253

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

Victory be unto Sai Who is the main-stay of the Bhaktas, Who is our Sadguru, Who expounds the meaning of the Gita and Who gives us all powers.  Oh Sai, look favourably on us and bless us all.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter XLIX Page 249

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

Good dishes taste flat, if there be no company of friends and relations to partake  of the dishes with us, but when they join us, the dishes acquire additional flavour.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter XLVIII Page 243

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

The main characteristic of a Sadguru is, that he is the abode of peace.  He is never restless nor ruffled.  He has no pride of his learning.  The poor and the rich, the small and the great, are the same to him.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter XLVIII Page 243

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

A Sadguru does not, ever in his dream, expect any service or profit from his disciples.  On the contrary he wishes to serve them.  He does not think that he is great and the disciple small.  Not only he loves him as his son but regards him as equal to himself or as Brahma.  

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter XLVIII Page 243

Om Sai Shri Sai - Jaya Jaya Sai

How can he, who is himself devoid of self-realization, give it to the disciples?  A Sadguru does not, ever in his dream, expect any service of profit from his disciples.  On the contrary he wishes to serve them.  He does not think that he is great and the disciple small.  

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter XLVIII Page 243

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

But he, who by his discourse creates in us, a distaste for the enjoyments of this world and the next, and gives us a taste of self-realization, who is well-versed in both the theoretical and practical knowledge (self-realization) deserves to be called a Sadguru.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter XLVIII Page 244

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

He who teaches us Veda and Vedanta or the six Shastras (systems), he who controls the breath, or brands his body with Mudras (metallic marks of Vishnu's weapons) or gives pleasing discourses regarding Brahma, he who gives mantras (sacred syllables) to the disciples and orders them to chant the same a certain number of times, but does not assure them any result in a definite time, he who by his spacious wordly knowledge explains beautiful the Ultimate Principle, but has himself got no experience or self-realization, is not a Sadguru. 

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

Thursday, June 4, 2020

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter XLVII Page 243

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

The moral of the story is that one has to reap what one sows, and there is no escape unless one suffers and squares up one's old debts and dealings with others, and that greed for money drags the greedy man to the lowest level and ultimately brings destruction for him and for others.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter XL Page 214

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

But when he began to recollect the dream, he remembered each and every word the Sannayasi uttered in his dream.  Though he was in contact with Baba for seven years; and though he always meditated on Baba, he never expected that Baba would come to his house for meals.  

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter XLV Page 231

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

His physical or finite form has, no doubt, disappeared from our view; but the infinite or spiritual form (Spirit of Baba) ever lives.  The Leelas, which occurred during His lifetime, have been dwelt upon at great length, up till now.  Ever since His passing away, fresh Leelas have taken place and are even now happening.  This clearly shows that Baba is ever-living and helping His devotees, as before.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

Monday, June 1, 2020

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter XLIII & XLIV Page 226

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

In that incarnation He (Lord Krishna) lightened the burden of the earth.  This incarnation (Sai Baba) was for the uplift of His devotees.  Then where is the reason for doubt?  The ways of the saints are really inscrutable.  

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter XLIII & XLIV Page 226

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

These are the words of a saint and hence nobody should take doubt about them; because in the Krishna Avatar, Chakrapani (Lord Vishnu) performed this very deed.  Krishna appeared before Dewaki in the prision as a lad of eight years.  Who had bright complexion and Who wielded weapons in His four arms.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter XLIII & XLIV Page 226

Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

Some people started remembering the words of Sai Baba.  Somebody said that Maharaj (Sai Baba) told His devotees that in times to come, He would appear as a lad of eight years.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

As is in Shri Sai Satcharita, by Hemadpant .. Chapter VI Page 30

 Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai Four paths, biz., of Karma, Jnana, Yoga and Bhakti lead us separately to God.  Of these, the path of Bhakti i...