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Sai Vichaar 01.Feature of the Week: As close as it gets 02.Devotees Say 03.Prayer Club 04.Sai Activities 05.Experiences of Devotees 06.Question of the Week 07.From the Editor's Keyboard 08.Submit your article to Sai Vichaar 09.Subscribe to Sai Vichaar 10.Disclaimer From the Editor's Keyboard... Readers and devotees, please refer to "Sai Activities" section for information on Sai idol consecration ceremony at Pittsburgh Sai Baba mandir this weekend. Sai Utsav 2000 is slowly coming to reality. Sai's grace, the very force that was instrumental in the functioning of Shirdi Sai Web site, has once again inspired His children to organize Sai Utsav 2000 November 23-25, 2000, a unique spiritual event involving Sai devotees from around the world. By Baba's blessings, and with the active support and participation of Sai devotees this event, first of its kind, is coming to reality. Please refer to Sai activities section and follow the link for more details. Sadguru Sainath Maharaj's Mahasamadhi day (the anniversary of Sai Baba's mortal demise) is on Saturday. Devotees are requested to observe this holy day with reverence and in prayers of Lord Sainath. The "Question of the week" for this week is What is the social purpose of a spiritual ritual? Humbly yours, The Editor
Disclaimer Sai Vichaar is devoted to the philosophy and teachings of Shri Sadguru Sai Baba of Shirdi, and will take every measure to avoid topics or themes contradicting the same. Sai Vichaar team or the Shirdi Sai Baba web site organization is not responsible for the opinions expressed by individual contributors.
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Feature of the Week: As close as it gets Is Sai Baba just a saint and none more? Is he just Guru, a sadhu, a mendicant that lived a century ago in Shirdi? People then, and now, have the confounded perception that Baba was just an ordinary mortal that perhaps was a saadhaka and none more. Is Sai Baba like Lord Krishna or Rama? Grandiose vision of God as explicitly described in religions does in fact confound the man from seeing God in simple things. Such as the begging fakir that roamed in the streets of Shirdi. With a little bit of faith and devotion, it is possible to see right through the Saint, the Universe that the Saint Himself represents! Shri Sai Satcharithaamritha depicts such events. Somdev had to eat the humble pie, the greedy Ramdasi, and even Dasganu maharaj who thought Pandharpur is several koss away, while Sainath made the poet momentarily realize that all pilgrimage is at His feet! Acharya E Bharadwaja eloquently describes one aspect of God in his great work,
"Sai Baba the Master" as follows: "Everything is God's creation, and God's own. Yet He
possesses nothing and covets nothing. On the other hand He lavishes all that is His on
His creatures, though only a few can receive what he gives. Others have eyes but do not see;
they have ears but do not hear; they have understanding yet do not consider. The greatness
of a saint or prophet depends on how near he is to this aspect of God. And such God-men
arise amidst us only to tell us to be perfect "even as the Father in heaven is perfect".
Darshan Paul Kaur Sabki tum sunte ho Baba
Thak gayi mein intezaar mein
Saare jatan kar ke mein haari
Aansoo bhi sookh gaye hein mere
Tu janta hai mein hun akeli
Saburi meri khatam hui
Tumne mujhe sapne dikhaye
Apne paas bula lo mujhko
Brief translation in English follows:
Shanmugha Priya, Omaha, USA
Saradha Gopalan
Prayer Club
Sai Utsav 2000, Chicago, USA
All India Sai Samaj, Mylapore, Chennai.600 004 India:
The 82nd Lord Sainath Mahasamadhi celebrations commenced with Lord Vigneswara, Sri Lakshmi,
Sri Suktha, Sri Navagraha homam in the morning and installation of Kalasam in the
evening on 27th September. Smt.Saroja Vijayaraghavan gave music performance in the night.
From 28th September Thursday, daily Lord Sainath Sahasranamam, Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam,
Sri Durga, Sri Lakshmi, Sri Saraswathi astothrams are being performed in the morning
and evening. Kanniga pooja for seven kanyas in the morning and in the evening are
being performed.
On 28th September Mr. Saimani gave recital on electric Guitar in the morning. Kumari Sharada
gave music performance in the afternoon. In the evening children of Hamsanandam music
school sang devotional songs. In the night Sri Thomas and group gave devotional music
highlighting Lord Sainath till 11.45 p.m. On 29th evening Mrs.Charumathi sang and in the
night Mr. C.B.Ramanarayanan gave music performance. On 30th Sept, young upcoming artist
Master Raghava Krishna gave vocal recital followed by Smt. Swathi Krishnan in the night.
On 1st October being Sunday, Bhajan in the morning by Mr. Raman, Delikumar and group.
Evening Swami Sivananda Padukas was brought over by Swami Sivachidananda of Rishikesh.
Swami Sivananda undertook a lightning tour of lndia and Ceylon during the year 1950.
Now after 50 years his Padukas are taken to various places where Swami Sivananda toured
during his life time. Swami Sivananda was closely associated with Pujyasri Narasimhaswamiji,
the founder of All India Sai Samaj and many other Sai Institutions in India. Pujyasri
Narasimhaswamiji spread Sai movement during the years 1935 till his end of life
in October 1956. Sri Narasimhaswamiji started "Sai Sudha" in the year 1940 even before
starting the Samaj, to spread Sai movement. In this "Sai Sudha", many articles on Sai and
experiences of devotees used to be published and this book contains three language sections,
namely, English, Tamil and Telugu. Shri Sivanand Swami wrote articles almost every month
in "Sai Sudha" during his life time, as he was closely associated with Pujyasri Narasimhaswamiji.
All India Sai Samaj welcomed the Swami Sivananda's Padukas with Poornakumbam by
Sri K.Ramaswmy, President of the Samaj on 1st October 2000. Shri K.Ramaswamy,
offered seshavastramas to swamijis of Rishikesh and thanked them for having brought
Swami Sivanand Padukas to All India Sai Samaj and narrated how Swami Sivananda
continuously contributed articles in "Sai Sudha" on various Bhakthi Marga and moral values
of life. Swami Sivananda contributed articles every month in "Sai Sudha" till his
nirvana/Samadhi. Devotional Bhajan by Narasimhaswamiji Dwarakamayee prathama sisya got
started during the life time of Pujya Sri Narasimhaswamiji gave wonderful Bhajan,
led by Mr.Meenakshisundaram.
The night activity included flute recital by master Naveen. On 2nd October music by
Kumaris Lavanyaa and Charumathi.. On 3rd October Kumari Charulatha, young upcoming
artist/student of Engg.college gave wonderful devotional music. In the night
Shri K.Veeramani Raju who rendered lot of Sai songs in audio cassettes gave devotional
performance. We have Lord Sainath Mahasamadhi on 8th October, Sunday. We expect very large
gathering on that day being holiday and all the persons will be provided lunch as
Lord Sainath prasad after Rudra Abhisekam, Pooja,archana and arati. provided lunch after
Abisek and arati at noon. More details in next issue.
Sri Shirdi Baba Temple, Pittsburgh, PA
SAI SAMSTHAN USA Shri Shirdi Saibaba Mandir, Warrenville, IL
On this day, we have day-long events, including prayers, bhajans, kirtans,
Sacharita Parayan, Shakti Homam, Ashtothara Maha Kalasa Puja, Abhishek,
Shri Shirdi Saibaba Sahasranama Puja. We kindly request you to participate along
with your family and friends in all the activities on this day.
Sai Center, New Jersey, USA
Program Details:
MAHAPRASAD will be served after AARTI
Meenakshi Dixit
I am Sai Baba's devotee since 1988. After my marriage I went to Shirdi with my husband
in January 1990. Since then we had a number of miracles happen to us of which I am going
to share with you one. It was during my second son's pregnancy in the 5th or 6th month when
I found that we had no stock of the Sacred Udi at our home. I was concerned as I had a
feeling that this delivery will be complicated and Udi will help me in the delivery.
My husband suggested that he would visit Shirdi to get the Udi but gave up on my persistence
and also he did not find it right to go to Sai Baba all by himself. But then he assured me
that if I sincerely desired the Udi from Sai Baba then he would send it. A few days later
my husband's former student came to our house. He used to stay close to our house. When he
came that afternoon we still had the idea that he is staying in the same place. When my
husband enquired about it he said that he was coming from Kerala as he had got a job there
and had come to Hyderabad from where he was going to Shirdi and then to his native place near
Hyderabad. This was the first time he visited us and never came to our house when he stayed
so close! Our joy knew no bounds as true to our wishes and belief we were getting the Udi.
Then my husband asked him to get the Sacred Udi from Dwarakamai for me and told him all
that had transpired between me and him(my husband). His student brought the Udi after a week.
Before going into the labor room I drank the Udi mixed with water and remembered Sai Baba.
I delivered a boy who we named Sai. The delivery had complications but the Udi came to my
aid and everything passed off smoothly. We felt that Baba himself came to our aid.
Satchidananda Sadguru Shri Sainath Maharaj Ki Jai!
"How can Sai devotees reflect Baba's humility in their daily lives?"
Allah Malik. The life given by god is for doing good to others. As Baba said
"See God in all beings", we must live our life by trying to see god in all beings by
practicing humility. Humility implies submitting our ego, selfishness, fear and fame
to god. This gives us unbounded and unconditional love towards others. One has to forget
his power, status and wealth when talking and working with others. The advantage with
this is we have a little chance of hurting others. This approach allows us to practice
humility in our day to day life. Though this is difficult to achieve ,the point is we
should make humility as our way of life and not as an occasional affair.
"Let your life serve as a lesson to others" - Source:Shri Sai The Superman
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