The relationship between Baba and His devotee is expressed in several ways. He is the mother, He the father. He is Sadguru and He is God. He can be anything to anyone, just the way one would like it. However, the difference is that the relationship is permanent and existed even before it was known or felt. Baba would often say, I will draw my devotee to me, just as a bird is drawn with strings attached to its legs. The analogy aptly refers to the agitated mind of the child that is comforted by the thought of His safe hands. Let us see the relationship beautifully expressed in the following phrases:

This relationship between the Supreme Being and the individual soul (human being) will never be allowed to be snapped. Unlike the steps taken by a father to groom his son and the latter expressing his gratitude, which acts are merely temporary, the tie between God and His devotees will be unbroken forever. The essential requirement of the latter is to shed his ego. Saint Appar has said even as a snake bites a person, ego stings him resulting in aberration in his behavior. Secondly, as a servant, he should demonstrate how he is always dependent on the Almighty. Poet Kamban has pointed out how Rama (God in the form of human being) followed Sage Viswamitra and how Lakshmana dutifully attended on Him. ``I serve Him to please Him'' were his words. Likewise a sincere devotee should declare pleading with God, ``I want only You and none else and nothing else''.

The term ``devotion'' has been described in holy works from different angles. The essence of it, in simple manner, will be that it represents perfection of humility and ardent service to God and His messengers and also extinction of one's ego and ill-will. It should not be mistaken with the display of mere emotional rapture. Then, what will be the definition of a sincere ``devotee''? This too has been stated clearly, namely that he is one who has clear understanding of his relationship with the Almighty and that the bond that exists between the two is permanent. He should hold on to the feet of one God alone without switching his loyalty to various deities. A devotee will assiduously carry out Divine commands, and will attend on spiritual guides.

(In part reference to the "The Hindu" dated December 21, 2000)
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Experiences of Devotees

Rajesh Seshagiri
In last 2 years I have become a great devotee of Shirdi Saibaba. Baba has helped me in lot many ways. I would like to share one experience which happened to me with you all. I live in Portland USA , 2months back we were travelling to Vancouver to do some shopping, I was in proper route, all of a sudden we lost our direction and we did not know where we were heading ,I did not know what to do , my wife told me that we were in hurry that day and we not pray Baba properly before leaving home, I accepted and said Sai please help me out , to my surprise and till today we did not know how it happened, I just took the next exit , which was far too off of the shop we were looking far, but to our surprise just after we took exit , we came to a gas station ad asked about the shop, to our surprise, the lady in gas station told ,the store is in next street, we could believe it. devotees from that day I feel Baba never lets down anyone of the devotees who do not loose faith in him

I had a very good dream last night which I wanted to share with all of my Sai family. In my dream, people were carrying a big procession of Sai Baba at some place .People were carrying Baba's statue on one bullock cart. and I was also waiting in a line for that cart to come to me so that I can take Baba's Darshana. Finally That cart came to me and I was looking for Baba's statue to take Baba's Darshana because I could not see any on that cart. Then one of Baba's devotees told me that we are carrying Baba's " Samadhi" on this cart. I looked there and it was made up of red colored cement bricks. As soon as I saw Baba's that "Samadhi" I started chanting Baba's name, "Om Sai Ram "and then I bow my head at his Samadhi and put white colored flowers at that place. Then I woke up suddenly. I was really happy. And moreover I was chanting Baba's name in dream which made me feel very nice about it.
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Devotees say...

Shabnam Sanyal
OM SHRI SAI RAM

My dear Baba, please accept my humble pranaams and prostrations at your lotus feet and my love which I offer to you today and always. Bless all Baba. Keep me in this eternal bliss.

Dear Sai family,

Saishiva, I would like to share an experience with you which happened some time back. I saw the movie Shirdi ke Saibaba, and tears started flowing nonstop. I told Baba I am sure I must have been here on this earth when you were there in shirdi but I do not remember, so please give me your darshan in a dream or vision. I had just finished one parayan. I opened The Sri Satcharita at random and the page opened in which Baba tells one of his devotees to do another parayan. So I decided to do another parayan at the completion of which I thought Baba would give me his darshan in the form of a dream or vision but nothing happened and I was really dissapointed. That weekend we went to the Hindu Temople in New York to celebrate Sathya SaiBaba's birthday, towards the end of the function all heads in the audience turned and this tall person walked into the room. He was dressed in full white from head to foot just like Shirdibaba, my hair stood on end for a second there I thought ShirdiBAba had walked into the room. He went straight to the podium and his first words were I am not Shirdi Baba, I am only his Das or servant, my name is Saidas Baba. He then went on to narrate the story of the Birth of Shirdi Baba, and talked about how all the Sai's are one and also talked about Prema Sai, the third avatar. You all too can read the details on his site at www.saifoundation.org

His ashram Prashanti Dham in Ujjain India, was visited by Sathya SaiBaba where Swami did the pranprathistan of ShirdiBaba's murti and in his speech he said in the years to come there will be three main places of pilgrimage in India, Shirdi, Prashanti Nilayam and Prashanti Dham. Saidas Babaji is visiting the USA this year, for more details you can contact mrs. Vinnie Dhillon at 856 216 7225
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Sai Activities

Sri Shirdi Baba Temple, Pittsburgh, PA 15146, USA
Sri Shirdi Saibaba temple in Pittsburgh has scheduled the following program for the month of January:
January 13 Bhogi
January 14 Makara Sankranthi
Veda Patanam
January 15 Kanuma
January 16 Savitri Gauri Vratam

In addition, the temple also schedules regular festivals of the month, daily pooja and abhishekam. Please contact 412-374-9244 for more details. Pittsburgh Sai temple is situated at 1449 Abers Creek Road, Pittsburgh, Please visit www.baba.org
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Prayer Club

Sanjeev
Dear Baba, Please help me in my research and bless my supervisors along with me so that my paper is published. You have been so merciful on us. Jai Sai Ram Jai Sai Ram Jai Sai Ram Jai Sai Ram
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Quotation of the Week

"Saibaba often hinted that he had not come to teach, but to awaken. He sought to bring about his awakening through the impact of his love. Through centuries men have read volumes of philosophy, but so long as there is no integration between thought and practice, sadhakas do not grow in spiritual Grace. Sai Baba, therefore, simplified his teachings, so that bhaktas may get down to the sheer practice of spiritual sadhana" - Mani Sahukar as cited in Sai Baba of Shirdi a Unique Saint by MV Kamath and VB Kher.
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