Feature of the Week: Sai Apostle - H.H. Sivanesan Swami of Shirdi

A Chalice of Sai's Grace

It is a rare gift to accept a human being as one's spiritual mentor. A rarer gift is to receive the blessings of Sai Baba through the teachings and companionship of a pure Sai Bhakta (lover of God). And even rarer still, is the honor that is bestowed upon an individual when one is accepted as Guru by a sincere seeker. The bond between a pure lover of God and a pure teacher of God is so deeply molded in the archetype of spirituality that rarely does a teacher or a student meet the standard by which the inner Self can satisfy its need to fulfill this sacred relationship.

Through no conscious merit of my own, except for a lifelong desire to know God, I received the extraordinary Grace to meet, and live the days I spent in Shirdi, with the most extraordinary Sri Sai devotee I will ever have the privilege to call Guru. I offer my love, which I share with you this day, in memory of the late Swami Sivanesan of Shirdi, the embodiment of Sai Baba's Grace.

For decades, Swamiji lived in Shirdi, and he served Sai Baba and the Master's devotees with his pure love and wisdom. He could be found during the day washing floors, decorating the various places where the Master resided, performing puja rites at the sacred dhuni (fires), meeting Sri Sai's devotees, and helping them in all aspects of their sadhana (spiritual practices). My heart reminisces in joy, when I recall the evenings spent in the Chavadi (a small meeting hall where Baba slept on alternate nights), listening to the bhajans (songs) led by this gentle servant of Sai Baba. His own needs were quite simple; to serve and to love Sri Sai's devotees with all his heart.

I began studying with Swamiji in 1976, and over the years, whenever I came to him, he always asked if I had been to the Master's samadhi shrine for darshan. Sai Baba was his object of worship. He would never ask anyone to substitute their one-pointed dedication to Sainath. While his body was still strong, he never willingly allowed me to touch his feet, but instead, he would catch my hands and pull them to his heart and to his head. Even when I playfully tried sneaking up on him while his back was turned, he managed to catch my hands. "I am Sai Baba's devotee. Go to Sai Baba!", would be his response as his eyes chuckled with light and love. In later years, as crowds grew in number and his body grew older, Swamiji no longer had the strength to keep catching devotee’s hands reverently reaching out for him. Reluctantly, he accepted worship, and channeled it to his Beloved. For me, he was the perfect servant, and a perfect teacher. The depth of his knowledge still astonishes me. The depth of the meditative experiences I had in Shirdi while under his care, remain my Chaitanya (living) worship for the remaining days of my life.

After Swamiji passed away, news came to me from India that some of his devotees began treating each other badly, falling victim to petty rivalries, and forgetting who Sivanesan Baba represented. Learning about these events made me withdraw into deep sadness. Even my own words were published without my permission, to be used as endorsements by those needing support. These events caused me to weep, and it made me very depressed. I journeyed to seek the advice of a close friend who is a Mahamandaleshwar Saraswati monk. When I told him about the burdens occupying my thoughts, he smiled sympathetically, and reminded me how this often happens after a Saint leaves his body behind.

Last summer, Sivanesan resolved my turmoil. He fully manifested during my meditation, and he performed bhajans in the Dwarka Mayi of my inner heart. He then diffused within a vast ocean of consciousness, which I intuited as the Master. Sri Sai spoke to me in the tongues of Inner Light, "If he spent his life in Shirdi, if his body turned to dust in Shirdi, if he loved only Me, then who do you think he is?"

Since that day, I am no longer anywhere without feeling their consciousness embracing me. In memory of Cardinal John O'Connor, who has been laid to rest while I composed these words, I would like to end by reciting a Christian prayer with the hope that devotees always remember. "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil (ways). Amen."

I thank Sai Vichaar for providing me an avenue to share my feelings with Sai Bhaktas. Aum Sai Ram!

(A Contribution by Sai devotee Robert Kirk, USA)
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Devotees Say

A Sai devotee
This is a reply to a devotee, who wanted to understand the great Baba’s response for her/his wish and wish fulfilling prayer. I am just giving you one of my experiences with BABA. I have a wonderful book"SAIBABA THE MASTER" by E.BHARADWAJA. I started reading this book, just merely to fulfil the wish/desire I had in my mind. Till an year back, my relation with BABA was some thing like give and take. I mean here, I pray to him in my mind like I am reading this book and I want a particular thing. He used to respond positively exactly in the last moment of finishing this book. Of course, I was bit reasonable, I mean here I never asked him like something impossible. Because this is against his philosophy, we must deserve the thing we ask for (from him). This is what he demonstrated to a rich guy, who came for Brahmagnana. O.K, Let's not get deviated. An year back, I think I completed parayana of this book some 11 times or more successively taking some three days a reading. You can understand, how much time I spent not less than 5-6 hours a day continuously for a month or so. All I did is for his(Baba) grace to process my application to join SAP as SAP professional. This was the time SAP professionals were being paid highest in the market. But I came to know that I was rejected. That was the second time I failed from my kamadhenu ("SAIBABA THE MASTER"). The first time I failed was when I wanted to become an Indian Civil Servant without putting the required amount of effort. I ignored this case because, I was like the guy who asked for what he didn't deserve. But in the second failure, I couldn't agree with BABA that I was not amongst the deserved ones. When I failed in the second time, I tried to understand myself. Am I wrong in thinking that I don't belong to the non-deserved candidates? If so, I am an egoist. If I am not wrong BABA hasn't shown grace on me, subsequently the deal failed between me and BABA. But he(BABA) said, I(BABA) should return 100 times to the amount I take from devotees. So where did my prayers gone. No where, He knows every thing. He is mercy no doubt about it. He knows what is best for us, not we. Now, I understood why BABA didn't make me a SAP professional. The job market for SAP profession disappeared some thing like a water bubble, what appeared to me like an unbeatable career I Dec 98.Whose knowledge is real knowledge is it my knowledge about myself or his knowledge about myself. That's up to you. Even though, my relation with him(BABA)was strained for a day or two some where Dec 98. He never minds for it. It is the kid who gets angry with his/her mother for not getting what he/she wanted from mother and responds towards mother accordingly. But mother always thinks which is best for the kid and acts accordingly but not according to kid's wish. This is the law for the kids who stay together with mother like we all with BABA. No prayer goes unanswered in his masjid. The only thing is we understand some times and sometimes not. I am sure, BABA is trying to get some thing better.

Vijay Anand, Dubai
May I request the concerned person(s) to provide me the exact date of arrival of Sri Sai Narayan Baba to Dubai. And the venue and time. for how many days is he going to stay in Dubai ? can you please give me the details.

Dear Sai devotee, Dipak S Anchan: These kind of questions arise in the mind of an individual when he tries to walk on the path of spirituality but is confronted with his logic, limited knowledge, common sense and reasoning as hurdles. None of the spiritual people answered your question because they knew that they can't easily satisfy and fix the concept in your mind. It is not relevant to call the creator as male or female; mother or father. Because ordinary human beings are prone to understand the universe through some means & forms Sai Baba must have used the words "Allah Malik" (father) or "Masjid Mai" (mother) else it is of no use to our knowledge to which gender God belongs to. One reason can be that we consider the earth as mother (Hindi - Dharti Maa) who bear us and the sky/heaven as father who gave birth to us. Have patience and faith in lord Sai and he will teach you the essentials through the passage of time.

Mala
Sai ram Vishal , I was so happy when I read your message . It was like as if Sai him self telling me ,any way every action in this world is controlled by HIM , So may be this is one of Leelas (way) to bless his devotees.
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Prayer Club

A Sai devotee
I am pregnant now and I have a boy. I had a very risky delivery first time. And my doctor said that this time also I will have high-risk pregnancy. First time I did not know until I delivered. But this time , as I already now that My life is at stake . I am scared. Please pray for me to have a safe delivery. Please pray for me to have a daughter. Please, I need a daughter this time. Please pray for me to have a daughter.

Ritu Verma
Dear Sai Baba Ji, Please help my parents as they are going under financial problems very badly. they are in need of finance very badly. I am working, but I can't help them as I got married even though I want too. Please help them out from this problem otherwise it will create a lot of problem for them. Please Sai Baba ji help them out.

Nagarajan
I am sending a prayer request. For the past several years until now our family is experiencing financial difficulties and at present it has become a crisis. I sincerely request Sai Devotees to pray for Nagarajan family for His blessings and strength during these difficult times. Our debts have increased and earnings have decreased due to continued unemployment, hospitalization and various major expenses during these times. Our family always prays together but now we need the strength from Sai devotees.

Pushpa Patel
pray all as devotees that my elder daughter should get married as early as possible. let Sai Baba help us as every body. I am very much worried about above issue. Sai Baba help me and my daughter as you are helping everybody.
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Sai Activities

Sri Sai Narayan Baba leaves Mumbai on Sat 29th April, 2000 for his Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Updesh Prachar 19th overseas tour along with eleven senior devotees of the Sansthan and will return on Sat 20th May, 2000. During this tour he will conduct Havan, Satsang and will give discourses in Dubai, London, New Jersey (May 4th through May 10th), Las Vegas(May11th thru May 13th), Los Angeles(May 14th thru May 16th) and Hong-Kong.

Contact Numbers:
New Jersey - Smt. Pramila Tahilramani at 732-817-0561
Mr Mohan Bharani at 973-398-3640
Las Vegas- Smt Chandra Kewalramani 702-739-0345
Dr. Chander Raj 702-731-1147
Sri William Sani 949-552-0070
Los Angeles Mr. Gopu Khiani 949-559-8887
Mr. Raju Shewa 714-693-0453

Sai Darbar, Saibanisa. http://www.saidarbar.com
SAI SANDESH FOR THE MONTH - MARCH / APRIL 2000 http://www.saidarbar.com Dear Saibandhus, Pranams to all. Due to unforeseen circumstances we are releasing Sai Sandesh for the months of March / April 2000 together and we hope that our site viewers will kindly bear with us. Many letters were received asking us as to how we are able to handle so many activities simultaneously from the saidarbar site including 'Annadhaana karya krams' It is possible only due to the blessings of Sainath, financial assistance from the devotees and last but not the least, the faith placed in our Sainath by his devotees. For further information on site, you may kindly view the page titled 'Persons behind the site'. We are happy to inform that we have inaugurated Saidarbar's first branch abroad in London (UK) and will be controlled by saibandhu Shri. Suresh Waghila. People with zeal and service motto to Sai are welcome from other parts of the World for offering similar services and are requested to contact saibanisa@yahoo.com for further details and information. During the month of March, a new page titled Sai devotees -1918 along with some rare and life time photographs presented by Shri. Satish Achanta from ZURICH have been added to the page 'Sai in camera' Saidarbar team sincerely thanks Shri. Satish for the nice treasure and the kind consent given to us to present them to our Saibandhus. It gives us pleasure to inform that articles on spiritualism taken from saidarbar were presented in http://www.fourdoors.org for the benefit of Sai devotees. On suggestions from our site viewers, we are introducing two more pages titled 'About God' and 'About Meditation' due to the kind co-operation extended by Shri.Bharam Uma Maheswara Rao. Shri.Rao is a Retd. Superintendent of Police, an elderly person and above all a true devotee of Sai. We are more than honored to present his pages to our fellow Saibandhus. Many have expressed their happiness telephonically to saibanisa for the 'audio file' and the usefulness of the important 'mantras' recorded there in during the course of their prayer and meditation. Our sincere thanks to them. Inquiries have been flowing from different quarters asking for more information on 'Annadhaana karyakrams'. Those of the devotees who are interested to participate may please contact saibanisa@yaboo.com.

SAI SANDESH FOR MARCH Lack of knowledge is the root cause for all the sexual disorders. To live in darkness is the cause for one to be in a bad company. Lack of understanding is the main reason for disharmony in a marriage and divorce is not the solution for it. Shiridi Sai / 31-03-2000.

SAI SANDESH FOR APRIL Man tries to befriend the impeding ups and downs in life to come on the way. Why does he not do the same when he is faced with chronic Health problems, instead of developing suicidal tendencies? It is a great sin on his part to commit suicide. Ups and downs, Health problems are all a result of our own Karmic deeds and it is sooner the better, we realize this ground reality. Shiridi Sai / 30-04-2000.

Please forward the contents of SAI SANDESH for the month to your relatives, friends and be a partner in this team for spreading the Sai Philosophy.

SAI IN ANNADANAM-9 DATE:01 MAY 2000,MONDAY TIME:12:30 IST VENUE:SHRI SAIBABA TEMPLE NEAR PASSPORT OFFICE SECUNDERABAD, AP INDIA. This Annadanam program was held on the occasion of birthday of master Vigneshwar as requested by his mother Smt Jamuna Seethapathy of Singapore. Archana(ritual worship) was performed in the name of Master Vighneshwar in Saibaba temple at 9am.Task of cooking was commenced at 10 am by the volunteers of http://www.saidarbar.com Participation in this program by Sai devotee Sri Pandu Ranga Rao, president of the Saibaba temple is taken as blessing of Sri Sai. The cooking was completed at 12:10 PM. Afternoon Arthi was recited 12:15 PM and the cooked food was offered to Sri Sai.Annadanam was then started. As the number of poor present that day was large and it was not possible to serve food in the restricted space, the consecrated food was then filled in polythene bags and distributed to about 200 poor who came in an orderly manner in a queue, and accepted the food packets. This orderly manner of distribution of food packets gave a great satisfaction to the office bearers of http://www.saidarbar.com On completion of distribution office bearers along with the President Shri Panduranga Rao and other staff of the temple had their meals in the Gurusthan of the temple. Shri Sai blesses master Vighneshwar and Smt Jamuna Seethapathi of Singapore, for contributing financially for this Annadanam to be successfully completed. Office bearers of http://www.saidarbar.com express their gratitude to Smt Jamuna Seetapathi Reported by Srinivasa Rao Kasturi for http://www.saidarbar.com Hyderabad AP INDIA
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Experiences of Devotees

A Sai devotee
This is a response to the article in Sai Vichaar. A Sai devotee mentioned that he was about to make a lot of money and did a lot of Pranams to Sai and was hopeful to get that amount of money, which did not materialize. Well, I have been a Sai devotee now for many years, and there is one thing I am very sure about and that is I have asked Baba for many a thing in my life and things have not always been granted to my desire, but in the long run when I have seen things in a clearer light I have understood why I did not get what I asked for. Baba teaches us patience and faith. He also tests us to see if our faith is genuine or just casual . Just like you and I would not like to be used or taken advantage of, Baba doesn’t either. Don’t lose your faith over a few material aspects of life. Baba is not here today and gone tomorrow as is with material goods. I am sure you were very disappointed that you did not get the money, but let me assure you no devotee of Sai Baba will suffer, your table will always have food, your body will always be clothed and you will have peace of mind. So put a smile on your face and tell Sai that you accept his will and then sit back and watch just how he will look after you. I am speaking from experiences, and with Baba by your side you will always be looked after.
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Question of the Week

"How does a Sai devotee define complete surrender to Guru?"

Alhad G. Sathe

When you submit to Baba, submit yourself with kaya(body), vacha (talk) and Mana (mind). Please do not expect anything from our Guru (teacher). All these expectations like job, money or getting cured from illness etc. are mohas (desires)surrounding your soul like snakes. As a Bhakta(disciple), it is your duty to give unselfish love to Baba. Guru gives knowledge, Shishya (disciple) absorbs it and in return gives Guru his Gurudakshina (selfless love).

Invoke Karma(action)with his name. You should always have some goal in mind. But do not expect Karmafala (expectation). Talk soft and sweet as if you are talking Baba and see him in everything. Whatever you say, follow it. Your action should match your words. Bring good and positive thoughts to your mind.

In short, follow Baba like a child. Grow from each experience. Why trouble our Baba with our worries?
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