Feature of the Week: The Winner

To return to other stories of Baba, there was a wrestler in Shirdi, by name Mohiddin Tamboli. Baba and he did not agree on some items, and both had a fight. In this, Baba was defeated. Thenceforth, Baba changed His dress and mode of living. He donned Kafni, wore a Langot (waistband) and covered His head with a piece of cloth. He took a piece of sackcloth for His seat, sackcloth for His bed, and was content with wearing torn and worn out rags. He always said, "Poverty is better than Kingship, far better than Lordship. The Lord is always brother of the poor" - Sri Sai Satcharitha, Chapter V - The English version by Shri NV Gunaji).

Baba lost the fight. However, He won the world and beyond. Stories of lives of saints are uniquely impregnated with interesting events. Some times the events may sound trivial, but every incident seems to have its message. Human life is constant struggle and competition. Usually, the assessment of a person or an event is shaped by the outcome and such a judgement itself in reality is the ego ratified. Sainath’s contention is perhaps the same. Accomplishing victories of mundane nature may ratify one’s ego, but does not necessarily guarantee the permanent happiness, a pursuit every human birth longs for. Accepting God’s dispensation and long for, if any, His grace will bring permanent happiness. True winners are those who accept God’s will, surrender their selves to His cause, accept their roles in His play and strive for the permanent happiness.
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Devotees Say

SRJ, Phoenix, AZ
I am looking for a Sai Temple in around Phoenix. I have seen regular contributions to Sai Vichar from MRK (Phoenix,AZ). May be he is aware of any. Please mention in your next newsletter if you are aware of any Sai Baba temples in or around Phoenix.

Vasudha Deepak
Kindly tell me the exact procedure of observing a Thursday Fast.

A Sai devotee, Vancouver, BC, Canada
This is a response to Raja, New Delhi, India, regarding a message under 'Prayer Club' last week. From Sai's guidance, let me suggest homeopathy treatment for the kind of illness that a 17 year old girl has been suffering for the past six months, which started after she had severe bout of chicken pox. There must be good homeopathy doctors in New Delhi who could be of help. Of course, as Sai devotees, we also pray that the young girl along with others who are suffering due to many causes will receive appropriate guidance and will get well. Jai Sai Ram

Alex Watts, California, USA
I have a question regarding something that I read in Sai Vichaar and I thought maybe you could help. I wanted to contribute to the Poor Feeding program mentioned a couple of issues ago, but when I sent an email to them inquiring as to how I could send money, they said they could only accept a Demand Draft payable at Chennai in Indian Rupees, something I can't easily obtain here in California. Do you have any suggestions as to how I could obtain this, or is it not possible? Thanks very much for your time, and for your website and newsletter.

(Baba Prayer Center, Chennai has been contacted regarding the mode of payment and the response will be published in Sai Vichaar. Devotees and readers are requested to contact various contributors to know more details about Sai Activities. It would also be very useful for devotees if respective organization could have means to accept donations/payments made by contributors from outside their country or region - Sai Vichaar)

Badri Narasimhan, Secane, PA, USA
Thanks for all your effort to giving us a chance to express devotees experience through your publication 'Sai Vichaar'. Although, I am not a very good writer, I have tried to express one of my experiences with SAI BABA. Sai Vichaar has made it possible to bridge the gap between Sai Devotees and learning their divine experiences. My sincere thanks to the organizers of this e-publication; which is a blessing to all Sai Devotees all around the world. I am almost impatient to see Sai Vichaar, every Thursday. I take some time in between my routine work to go through the entire mail. I feel blessed and filled after reading devotee's experience and other useful information. My whole family and me are very much blessed by both Shirdhi Sai Baba and Sathya Sai Baba. I would like to narrate my little experience with SAI. It was on 4 November' 1999, my younger daughter, who is two now, was unwell due to severe cold and cough. She could not sleep and was feeling unrest during whole night. She woke up at midnight at around 12:30 and was crying loud due to pain and we were praying Sai for a relief to her. It is usual, that I keep some Vibuthi of Sathya Sai Baba in my wallet and I thought of applying some vibuthi on her forehead and on her throat. While I was taking small paper packet of Vibuthi out of my wallet, another small brown colored paper wrap came across my finger and I felt something unusual in it. When I opened it, I was taken up by surprise; I saw a small gold coin with Sathya Sai Baba's bust size image on one side and Paadham surrounded by Sarva Dharma symbols on the other side. I was nervous but extremely happy by Baba's blessings to all of us in family and his presence in that form. I applied some vibuthi on my daughter's forehead, and she went to sleep without any disturbances. Since then, I am more attached and devoted to Sai Matha, who gave and is giving motherly love and affection all the time to everyone of us in our family. I have a feeling of Sai Baba's existence in everybody, everywhere all around me. As correctly said by our close family friend, Mrs. Shardha Aunty, who is in Ohio, " it is not only you should have faith in HIM but also have confidence in HIM and you can feel HIM". Jai Sai Ram.

Monica, New York, USA
Jai Sai Ram. My name is Monica and I am a student of MBA in USA. I am from Delhi in India. It has only been 7 months since I came to USA. I used to go to Baba’s mandir regularly on every Thursday and attend his aarti. I was very disturbed as nothing seemed to workout for me and used to feel dejected but felt very loved by Baba as his daughter. The day I used to cry something or the other will happen and he will make me smile. It feels as though he speaks through his actions. When I came here, I used to miss him a lot and felt as though he is not here. I wanted to know where is the closest Sai Baba temple as I am near New York and I asked to Baba’s photo Baba tell me where His temple was and that very day I signed for Sai Vichaar and in that came the address for the temple in Pittsburgh. One day, I felt I will be all alone and there will be no one to take care of me as my brother was going to India leaving me alone here. I slept crying and had a dream that I am in a dark room and I cried, "Baba where are you?", and then the lights came. Instead of Baba’s photo there was someone else’s photo I started crying again, "Baba where are you? come to me". Then the photo started to change and Baba was back in it. That very minute I heard Baba whisper in my ear, "I am here, do not worry". It was not a dream as the voice was echoing in my ear. I knew Baba was there in the room and he said all this himself in my ear. Baba made me realize he is there with me and I should not feel far from him although I am not in India. Baba I love you and want to make you and my parents proud of me as your daughter. Baba please guide me and let me not commit any mistakes in my life. Baba be with me always.
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Prayer Club

GSN Murthy, Chicago, USA
OM SAI RAM! OM SAI, SHRI SAI, JAI JAI SAI! I pray to SAI BABA with all my heart to bless the following:
1. Master Vikram, grandson of Mr.S.V.Sankaran, Chennai, India, in getting speech to him at the earliest and in getting early admission to school.
2. Father of Mr.Srikanth Kalluri, Hyderabad, India for recovering fast from his heart attack and in making him alright & healthy again to serve the mankind with his kind 'heart'.
3. Chinnu, Chennai, India, to relieve her & her family from the financial burdens and to unite them and to make them live peacefully.
4. Jayanthi, Singapore, to get a job to her husband at the earliest and to relieve them of financial burdens soonest.
5. Niece of Mr.Raja, New Delhi, India, to cure her from the present sufferings and to give her a pleasant and peaceful life, and
6. Unknown Sister (published in these lines on 17-FEB-2000). To give her extended life with all vigor & valor to lead her peacefully.

Prasad Vissamraju, Hyderabad, India
OM SAI RAM to the society of Sai vichar. Cannot say that I am a real "DEVOTEE" of Sairam. However, can assure you all that I am his earnest believer. The almighty knows that. At present, my position is a big zero. I am over 35 and yet to settle down in life. I have neither a good education nor a good employment. I am not sure what God has in store for me. I request my brothers and sisters of Sai Vichaar to kindly pray to Saibaba on my behalf. I hope to receive the love of the lord of Shirdi in the near future.

A Sai devotee, Orange County, California, CA
I am a devotee of Sai Baba I am asking other devotees to please pray for my health. I have been suffering for a few years from a sickness and am really asking everyone to please pray for me. I hope that my work will allow me to be able to go and see Baba in India in the very near future.

Gowri, USA
We are devotees of BABA for the past 3 years. We came to USA in 1997. Everything was normal until Aug 1999. After that the trouble started. After Aug 99 my husband is without project and we are surviving here for 6 months without salary. He got one and a half month project during Dec-Jan. That is it! Until now he is trying to get a job as much as he can and of course we are praying daily to Baba and we never forget His name even for a minute. All our friends here are trying for his job and praying for us. I request all the prayer club members to pray to Baba to get a permanent job. Thank you!

Sai Kiran
My name is Sai Kiran and I was born by Bhagawan Baba's grace. I am now 21year old. My father was a Sai devotee since 1962. Now he is no longer with us. But, still we are following his steps and we are praying to Baba with all our love and affection. At present, I am in a big trouble as I have been suffering from breathlessness for the past 1 year and 3 months. I underwent all the tests. Every thing is normal but still there is no hope. I have lost my interest in every thing and sometimes feel like committing suicide due to this bad health. Please help me in some way or the other to cure this mysterious disease as Swami can only help me in this matter. Kindly help me in this regard and advise me how to get rid of this problem. I am very much upset and I have no other way.
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Sai Activities

Shirdi Sai Baba Web Site Org.,
Shirdi Sai Baba Web Site Org is pleased to present the "CYBER TOUR OF SHIRDI" - a pictorial presentation of important places of Shirdi. You will need the Real Player G2 to play this presentation. Please visit the Cyber Tour page at http://www.saibaba.org/cybertour.html.

Shree Ram Bhagat Society A-73 (Basement), Shivalik, Malviya Nagar-110017
1. LIKHIT JAAP PUSTIKA: More than 1,00,00,000 (One crore) Jaap Pustika has been written by various devotees. 3,000 Devotees write books every month in various parts of India. The quantity of devotees writing Jaap Pustika is increasing as they are experiencing miracles. Cost of each copy is Rs. 7/-.
2. SHREE SAI AMRITVANI: 20,000 books have already been printed & they are being read in groups in various parts of Delhi & U.P. The book is recited with the help of audiocassette. There has been an occasion when vibhooti has started coming out from Murti of Sai Baba at the time of recitation of Amritvani. Cost of each book is Rs. 5/-.
3. SHREE SAI SACHITRA: This pious book is generally not available in Delhi as demand is more than supply. We generally get a stock of 1,000 books & distribute to devotees. Cost of each book with beautiful cloth cover is Rs. 30/-. Clothe used for cover is from Chaddar of Sai Baba Ji.
4. SHREE SAI AMRITNIDHI: This book deals with teachings of Sai Baba Ji as available in Sai Sachitra. This book helps devotees to understand teaching in a simpler way. This cost of each book is Rs. 10/-.
5. SCHOOL FEE TO POOR STUDENTS: Devotees have sponsored 20 students of a school & pay Rs.260/- for each student.
6. FUNCTIONS: We try to encourage devotees who are writing Jaap Pustika through various functions. Bhandara & Sai Bhajan are being organized in these functions. The future functions during next three months are as under: 26/02/2000 Gathering of 500 devotees at Sai Temple, Rohini, Delhi When religious books will be distributed & Bhandara has been arranged.

On 05/03/2000 Sai Parivaar Milan is being organized in a park opposite Sai Temple, Lodi Road, New Delhi. We expect gathering of 2,500 devotees, where 15,00 devotees will be awarded with spiritual gifts. The function will be as under:
10.00-11.00AM Recitation of Sai Amrit Vani and Meditation.
11.00-12.30PM Prize distribution.
12.30-03.30PM Bajans by Saxena Bandhu and party
03.30PM Bhandara

The other activities during the function as under:
1. Free Homeopathic Camp to be arranged by Mr. Moti Lal Gupta, Chairman of Taigon Road Sai Temple of Faridabad.
2. Free Health Check-up, Eye testing & other activities by renowned Allopathic Doctor to be arranged by M/s. V.L.C.C.
3. Spectacles to poor students.
4. To honor poor students, who are getting school fees from devotees.
5. Free Matrimonial Service 04/05/2000 Gathering of 3000 devotees at Sai Temple, Haridwar. Distribution of spiritual gifts, Bhandara & Bhajan has been arranged. IT IS TO BE INFORMED THAT WE DO NOT ACCEPT CASH. DEVOTEES GIVE ORDERS OR SPIRITUAL GIFTS & IT IS FORWARDED TO PRINTER. PAYMENT IS MADE DIRECTLY TO PRINTER. WE ONLY HELP TO DISTRIBUTE SPIRITUAL GIFTS (BOOKS) TO RIGHT DEVOTEES WHO REGULARLY WRITE LIKHIT JAAP PUSTIKA. If any of devotees is interested for any of activities, please send E-mail to vautomat@vsnl.com with attention to V.K. Bassi. There has been demand from various devotees across world to dispatch spiritual gifts by post parcel. We regret that we can not undertake this job & welcome devotees or their representatives to visit our Satsang Hall on any Thursday between 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M., when we meet to recite Shree Sai Amritvani. Following is our address: A-73 (Basement), Shivalik, Malviya Nagar New Delhi-110017. Contact: V.K. Bassi, Mobile: 981-000-5825 Phone: 6810307, 6810280, 6816349, 6817268, 6817820

Akhanda Sainama, Shirdi, India
March 9th & 10th for the first Mobile Akhanda Sainama (Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai) going round Shirdi-Rui-Rahata-Neemgaon on foot doing Sainama Sankeertana. If Baba permits we wish to distribute "prasad & photo" in the name of Sai to all the villagers who were fortunate to have Baba amidst their ancestors. If it is worth publishing in "Sai Vichar" please do so. Please do not hesitate to seek any information from me regarding Sai, Shirdi, and Sai devotees. Contact: D Sankaraiah, Hyderabad Tel: 040 3748649 sainama@yahoo.com
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Question of the Week

Who were Shirdi Sai Baba’s parents?

B.K.Anand, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
This is the extract (translated) from an article that appeared in the Telugu daily 'Eenadu' quite a long time ago : (For the 'Question of the Week') "It is often said that the birth of a great soul, like the origin of a mighty river, is inscrutable. So it is with the birth of Sri Sai Baba. From available scanty evidence, the following story of Sai Baba's early life somehow gained general acceptance. Sai Baba was born to the fortunate couple Jamuna and Nanda Lal, in the village of Patri on the 28th of September in 1835. He was apparently the youngest among their children. Due to some difficulties of bringing up the child, the couple left the small boy in the care of a fakir who lived in the village of Manvat. The fakir soon realized the this is no ordinary child and handed over the boy to Gopala Rao Deshmukh of Selu. This revered Brahmin figure, commonly referred to as 'Venkusa' is the Guru of Sri Sai Baba.Young Sai always stayed away from the pleasures of the world and lived in His own world of contemplation. Venkusa is believed to have given Him spiritual instruction and aided Him in realizing His mission.

Bhavatatula Murthy, Hyderabad, India
I am a Sai Devotee and I have gone through the books on life history of Shirdi Sai Baba written by: 1. Sri. Hemadri Panth 2. Sri. Ammula Sambasiva Rao 3. Sri. Satyapal Ruhela of New Delhi. After reading all these books I landed in confusion. Sri.Hemadri Panth says in Sai Satcharitra Baba got no parents and he is a Ayonija. Sri. Ammula Sambasiva Rao says in Sai Satcharitra(online history of Shirdi Sai Baba by Sri. Ammula Sambasiva Rao - www.saibaba.org) Sri.Gangabhavadyudu & Smt.Devagiri amma are the parents of Sai Baba. Sri. Satyapal Ruhela of New Delhi published a book called "What Researchers say on Sri. Shirdi Sai Baba". In this book,
1. Dr. Sangathani says parents of Shirdi Sai Baba are PROHIT NAHARA & AVANTIKA.
2. Sri.M.L.Narasaiah says Date of Birth of Shirdi Sai Baba is 11/03/1836 and parents are Nandalal & Jamuna Bai.
3. Smt.Shivamatai Says Parents of Shirdi Sai Baba are Vittal & Chakrapani amma.
4. Sri. B.K.Narayana says Shirdi Sai Baba Born on 23/05/1858.
5. Mata Krishna Priya says Shirdi Sai Baba was found to Smt. Lakshmi & Sri. Hari Krishna Sathe on 26/03/1836 Thursday Sri Rama Navami.
7. Sri M.V.Kamath says Parasa Ram of Patri Village is father of Sai Baba.

I request all Shirdi Sai Devotees to think on this subject and follow correct information. Let us not be misguided by the new authors who have created a confusion in the minds of Sai Devotees. If www.saibaba.org feels the Sai Satcharitra written by Sri Hemadri Panth is wrong then remove it from your site and encourage other authors and give peace to the soul of Late Sri. Hemadri Panth (Sri.Anna Saheb Dabholkar). Please understand the feelings of Sai Devotees and act accordingly to serve Lord Sai Nath of Shirdi and I request do not publish the articles, and books on Shirdi Sai which will hurt the feelings of Sai devotees.

Robert Kirk, Sri Sai Servent
It is my belief that since our Gurudev Sai Baba was first seen not being held in the arms of his mother and father, the question concerning his family lineage has been asked. Since being accepted by countless seekers as Avatara, this unanswered question has been the subject matter for countless talks and debates. Authors, journalists, and historians have uncovered every little stitch of hearsay, in order to reweave, rewrite, and rehash the stories of Sai Baba with their own pen, events which have already been scribed by those blessed devotees who had the good fortune to be in Lord Sai's presence.
To respond to Sumeet's written concern in the last issue of Sai Vichaar, concerning an author's freedom to pen his vision of Lord Sainath's childhood while writing a biography in the Dwarka Mayi, I sincerely thank Sumeet and all the other Sai bhaktas who voiced their concern.
To my knowledge, there is absolutely no written evidence of Sai Baba specificly speaking about his early childhood or parents, nor are new tales necessarily endorsed by Gurudev, because it was written in the Dwarka Mayi. The only new evidence to support these new theories is based on hearsay and/or speculation; concerning a missing child from the town of Pathri, and in other written works, of Sri Sai's foreknowledge of Pathri villagers; even though, Baba seemed to know everyone from everywhere intimately. This is not the first time this happened.
Das Ganu Maharaj, an exalted devotee who lived during Sainath's lifetime, told us that Sri Sai studied with Gopal Rao during his childhood, which, the above referred to author also noted as factual in his book. Modern historians have learned that this could not have been so in Sri Sai's lifetime, since there is more than a seventy year chronological time difference. It is my belief that Hemadpant's Sai Satcharita is the most historically accurate biography, and should be considered 'Sri Sai's bible'. It was blessed by Sai Baba during his lifetime. Our above noted author says that Sri Sai may have been speaking to Hemadpant cryptically, and what was written about his youth was not necessarily an event from Lord Sai's present lifetime. Please note that during my conversations with Mahalsapati's son, who knew Sai Baba while the Master was in his physical body, I was revealed a story, told to him by a great Siddha yogi who walked with Sai Baba during the time Sri Sai was working as a weaver's (embroiderer's) apprentice, which correlates with Hemadpant's version.
So the question arises, why was Sainath elusive concerning his paternal family and childhood? Or was he?
Perhaps the Master is insisting that we understand that it is not important where we come from. It is not important what caste or profession we are from. It is not important what religion we are born into, nor is there any importance to the stage of spiritual development we achieved in this lifetime.
The only thing that is important is that we love our Guru with all our heart and soul. Love for Guru and God is the only prerequisite to enter the path toward Self-realization. Steadfast faith and patient perseverence will come of its own accord. This is our Master's promise!
Hemadpant tells us Sri Sai's response to questions concerning his paternal lineage.
The Master replies, "We have no local habitation. Being bound by karma, we appear in flesh. Brahmin (the Absolute) is my Father. Maya (the world of forms) is my Mother. It is by their interlocking that I have taken this body."
When asked about his religion, he states, "Kabir!" (a fifteenth century Indian Sufi Saint of gigantic spiritual stature).
When the Master speaks of his Gurudev, he replies reverently. "Gurudev was my all in all; my home, my property, my Mother, and my Father. He was the sole object of my meditation."
What else need be known about a Spirit like Sainath who has transcended the body into the expanse of Godhead?
When a Master of Sri Sai's stature comes, I am concerned about knowing only Him, being in His Divine Presence, bowing my head in reverence, and accepting what he openly wishes to reveal to me.
Come, let us enter into the Dwarka Mayi of our inner heart chamber and revel in the Lord's darshan.
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