The Upanishads, the Geeta and the Puranas, all teach us to perceive God or Divinity in all things in Creation. The significance of worshipping God in so many names and forms is only this. We are told that Lord Ganesh has an elephant head, and that Hanuman is a monkey. We worship God as Durga, Shiva, Vishnu, Shanmukha and so on. We are encouraged to worship Tulasi every day, and even a snake on Nagapanchami. Some, who belong to other religions do not understand the meaning of these teachings and say Hindus worship several gods. To the contrary, our ancient sages taught us that there is one and only one God and He is everything. Therefore, one can address Him in any name and any form. For the same reason, when we worship the idol or a picture of a deity, the idol is simply a help to focus on the all-pervading and everlasting God in a form that is within the scope of our imagination. We do not think that God is only in the idol and nowhere else.

Although all this sounds so simple, in our daily lives, we do not know how to recognize God in fellow human beings and much less in animals, birds, and other things around us. Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi guided His followers to see God is in all beings, using ordinary daily experiences in the case of some devotees and spiritual experiences for others.

To Mrs.Tarkhad, He showed that the dog that she had fed was no other than Baba Himself. To Mr. Tarkhad and son, He said He was hungry because Mr. Tarkhad forgot to offer food to the portrait in their puja. During Shama's trip to Kashi, Prayag and Gaya, Baba in the form of His portrait, kept His word to be ahead of him. Baba demonstrated to devotees many other times that He and His portrait are the same. I wonder why "idol worship" is forbidden in some religions. Once, Baba asked Ruttonji first for a Dakshina of Rs. five but then said that He has already received Rs.3-14-0 from him, and that he should pay the balance only. It turned out that Ruttonji had already paid a Mohammedan Saint, by name Moulisaheb. The point is Baba wanted to show Ruttonji that He was one with the other saint. When Haribhau Karnik wanted to give Baba a Rupee, but already left Baba's Masjid, Narsing Maharaj at Nasik asked one Rupee from Karnik and Karnik realized that giving to this Maharaj was the same thing as giving it to Baba. Baba explained to Deo that He did attend his mother's Udyapan Ceremony as the Sannyasi in Bengali dress, who came with two other lads.

The chief artist of the Madrasi Bhajani Mela saw Baba as Sitanath. Megha, a devotee of Shiva, hesitated to bow to Baba in the beginning because Baba was a Muslim. But Baba was not Muslim, not Hindu, not Christian and not Buddhist. He was all of them. So, with Baba's grace, after a while, Megha could see Shiva in Baba.

Baba has assured "I always think of him who remembers Me. I require no conveyance, carriage, tanga, nor train nor airplane. I run and MANIFEST MYSELF to him who lovingly calls me.

(Contributed by Syamala Hari)
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Contributed Article: Baba Darshan de gaye!

Om Sai Ram, Om Jai Mata Di, Om Mianji, "Baba" has been part of everyday living since a quarter century, only that He gave His darshan in his Virat Roop last night.

Baba has been with me as I said, for a quarter century, guiding, protecting, blessing and in being with my family and me in each possible way. Baba inspired me to take up the lead in starting his pooja and bhajans, singing his glories, meditating on his form and praying here in New Jersey which resulted in a very short span of 5 years into a growing multitude of his devotees coming for his blessings at various functions organized by Shirdi Sai Center of which I was the secretary till recently.

Baba never left me. On 27th November, coming from an appointment with a doctor in Hanover township I just turned off on the exit for Bridgewater namely to se the status of Baba's idol in the house there and also to go to Hindu Temple. Every time I would go to Hindu temple, I would also do 'pranams' to Baba near the house and then go on. As I approached to house, I saw a board of the realtor saying 'For Rent'. I at once turned around and went inside and tried to see if anyone was inside the house as there was a car parked outside, but could get no response so I just got down the phone number of the realtor and called from there itself to find out at least where the idol was and if it was there then how are they then going to rent it. I left the message for the realtor to call me back, she, however did call back, and I asked her about the house being available for rent and what about the idol that was in the house. She told me that the idol has been taken away, but she did not know where and that ended our conversation. I thought that the idol was moved to the Pittsburgh temple.

On Thursday night, Mr. Venkat, one of the executive member of the organization called me up and left a message with my wife to call him back urgently as it was an important message. Now I am thinking that this is a great leela. I went in search of Baba and now Mr. Venkat is calling me up after a gap of nearly 2-3 years. I called up Mr. Venkat at 10 in the morning at his office to find out what the message was. After the preliminaries, he tells me that, 'Baba's ' message is to come to Long Island to see him. I asked him again, so he repeated 'Baba's message is to come to Long Island to see him there as we have brought Baba's idol there and are making the temple there, so you should come and see him there and also to meet with Mr. Nori and others on Saturday would be the pooja to start the construction on project. Now this can only be called a Leela, as I was looking for him, he sent a message within a weeks time through Venkat as to his where about, and upon asking Venkat when that idol was moved he replied about a week to 10 days ago. The place where they are making the temple is a Knights of Columbus Hall and based upon Baba's idol weight would be built the main hall or whatever remodeling has to be done. I have not been there yet.

Last night dream and Baba's darshan are unique, it's a gathering of a few people in our house to start the pooja and there is a new idol of Baba in its standing pose, as I sit down to start the prayers there was some distraction and then we had to restart, this time I noticed some dust around Baba's eyes and I got up to clean it, but it spread all around his face and the whole idol seemed covered with dust, just then I decided to do Baba's Abhishek, and told my wife to bring milk, honey for Abhishek, all around people also started helping. Soon we did Abhishek, chanting 'Om Sai Shri Sai Jai Jai Sai'. I dressed up Baba and put tilak on his forehead, covered his head and put garland around his neck and did Pranams saying sorry Baba your pooja is started late and please forgive us for our mistakes. I lighted the diya, jyoti and began to say 'Om Sainath Maharaj ki Jai' and Jyoteyan wali Mata teri Sadda hi Jai'. Soon there was a bright light and felt pulsating movements through the idol and stretching of Baba's hand and taking a step forward, I really got scared, I thought that the idol is going to fall down, maybe due to unevenness or someone shook the platform but I was stunned to see Baba step for ward pick up the Chamra and start waving towards all, then he started waving his hand and changed his facial expressions, once as in the idol at Flushing and another time into another of his loving smiling face. All this time I was standing stunned, crying, shivering and uttering in broken syllables Baba, Baba is here, all see, look Baba is here, can you all see? My wife also stood speechless I am crying looking at Baba, just then my wife shook me up and asked what happened, after a minute or two I said to her' Baba Darshan de gaye', 'Baba Darshan de gaye'

(By Kumud Sachdev, New Jersey, USA)
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Experiences of Devotees

Sanjeev
It was in august 2000 that I was quite tense with my research work and was not getting any output either Positive or negative out of my research efforts of one year. My presentation date was near in September last. But I was praying all the time to Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi in my usual way like reading Sai Satcharitha regularly and Doing all the artis on Thursday and Saturday. Just in the last week of august 2000, I had a dream in the wee hours of the morning as if somebody was whispering in my ears and there was an old man with a black dog moving past my house. The moment I opened my eyes I could not see or feel anybody near my bed. As a regular habit I went outside with the bird feed and to my utter surprise I saw an exactly what I saw in the dream, an old man and that too with a black dog. I could not believe my eyes but after that I was so blessed with my work that automatically the ideas started coming for my research and I was able to defence my first year of Ph.D.

Recently, on a Thursday, when I was doing kakad arti, suddenly an idea came to my mind that if Baba cared for me, then he should give me darshan and very well knowing that Baba would give darshan in any form. I prayed Baba to come in the same form, which I had seen in 2000 as an old man with a black dog. Devotees, please trust me that I even do not know the house of that old man nor anything about his whereabouts. However, to my great surprise after traveling for 20 miles in a public transport I got down in a superstore to buy Bird feeds as the one which I had bought was accidentally left in my university. There I saw the same old man with the same black dog outside that shop. If the situation would have been in India i would have touched his feet but i could not touch his feet thinking that in a western world this would be taken in a different way. However, I prayed in my mind about him. See the omnipresence of Baba. See the series of events that i had forgotten the bird's feed in the university Otherwise i would have never thought to visit that superstore. It is just an analogous story of Hemandpant who on his first visit to Shirdi experienced a similar experience.
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Devotees say...

Sunil Nimmagadda
I have been a devotee of Sai Baba for several years. He has always blessed me. In times of trouble, he was always there for me and bailed me out.

Here is one of my recent experiences. My wife had major problems during her delivery. She had high BP, diabetes, and could not breath. Every time it looked like the situation was getting out of control, i prayed to baby wholeheartedly and put the burden on him. I began to think about all of Baba's 11 sayings. He helped us and got things under control immediately. As soon as I prayed for help, her BP was under control, temperature would come down, and she could breath easily again. It was as if Baba was watching the whole thing and was with us that day. My son was also badly bruised during the delivery and was in bad shape. As soon as I started praying to Baba, he healed my son very fast, it was almost like magic. I would not have been able to go through the trauma with out Baba by my side and thank him for being on my side that day.

I have prayed and asked Baba for many things and he has always been on my side, helped me, and looked after me. His grace is unexplainable and he will always be on your side if you believe in him whole-heartedly even through tough times and do not give up on him. Believe in him wholeheartedly and just put the burden on him and he will surely bear it for you. Jai SAI RAM!

Subrahmanyeswara Prasad Nimmagadda
Let us pray to our lord SAINATH to make this project a successful one, which to going help the misplaced Earthquake hit families in Sursarbandh (Roper Block), Kutch, Gujarat, India. The villagers have purchased the land and Government of Gujarat, India and the Indian Development & Relief Fund, USA will fund the project. Mr. Umesh Rashmi Rohatgi resident of Novi, Michigan would be going to India on 16 Jan '2002. The whole amount will be used to build 110 homes. Prof. Wampler of M.I.T will help in designing the earthquake resistance homes. I request all of you to pray to our Lord SAINATH for the families who have lost their home and Wish them all a prosperous new year to begin with. OM SAI JAYA JAYA SAI
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Prayer Club

Shalini Agarwal
Thank You Sai devotees for your prayers. We are going to India this winter, please pray for our safe and hassle free trip. There is one person who always creates problems for us. And for sure please Sai Baba make our mind such that we all visit Shirdi for sure. We should be more religious. Please pray so that all four of us get proper Buddhi.

Prasanna
Sai Baba help me. Baba I have been not able to do my job well. Something bad is happening with me. Moreover, I am not happy with this job or in a position to leave it. Please save from trouble.

Bellala Nagadeep
Om Sai Ram. Babaji, You are so nice. I thank you for giving me everything. Every beginning of New Year you call me to Shirdi. Now I am in Canada. I am waiting for you to call me to Shirdi. When will that day come? Please give me darshan. WHEN WILL I SEE YOU? Om Sai Ram

Zinnia Umana
I am a Salvadorian who works in a manufacturing company. For some reason I got this good job which has nothing to do with my career in school. Here I met my boss, Jim Smith, a great man. About a month ago, he was fired. I was awed. The last person I thought would ever be released from his position was he. He was like a father to me. In less than a year, we came to be very fond of each other. I respected him, and still do. He is about 60yrs old. An American who worked in El Salvador, making a lot of money. He has to make a lot of money, because he has heart problems and limps. Can you imagine how hard it would be for a man his age to get a good job now a days? He went back to the US along with his wife and children. Please help me pray for him so that he can get a great job or at least somehow be able to buy all that expensive medication he needs to take to keep himself alive. He is not a Sai devotee. In fact, I do not even think he knows about our Lord Baba. I just want to repay him all what he taught me and did for me while we were working together. Baba: Just hold me with one hand while you push or pull him with your other hand.

Usha Sastry
Sairam. Our family is facing the problems, which you know very well. Financially and in job situation. I have no peace of mind but still confident that you will show us your mercy. Please help us Baba. My desires are very simple and I want to be more devoted to you in this life.

BL Venkatesh Murthy
Om Sri Sai Ram, Dearest Baba, you know what is happening in my life. I know that what I am doing is wrong, that is why I am trying to control my self also. But he is giving me more love what I am missing in my life. But one thing Baba I am not doing any injustice to any one.

I do not know what can I do. I cannot live with out him, and I am not behaving freely with him. But Baba once again I am telling that because of him only I am sharing life's enjoy. You know that all these I am faith in you and I did not see any thing in life, but after meeting with him only I am living my life. But inside some feeling is there that I am doing wrong. If it comes in my mind then I become nervous and very depressed.

So Baba please guide in this matter, please guide me in this matter. If I am doing wrong thing please make us separate. Really Baba I am in confused state. Guide me my GURU. I am a responsible person and all my life until now I spend without love and I forgot what is love and caring, I did not care for my self. No body was there for me to share this problem only With YOU only I can share this. So please tell me that I am doing wrong? BABA once again I am telling that I am not doing any injustice to my once) If it is wrong then guide me, and make me mentally strong. OM SRI SAI RAM SHOW YOUR BLESSINGS ON MY FAMILY

Swati Nema
Baba, please help me

Meena Wadhwa
jai sai ram ji,i would like to request sai baba's blessing for my daughter, thanks jai sai ram ji
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Quotation of the Week
Ignorance is the seed of Samsara (life and death). Put the medicine of the Guru's grace on the eye and the screen of Maya lifts, leaving only Jnana (knowledge). Jnana is not something to be attained, it is eternal and self-existent. On the other hand, ignorance has a cause and an end. The root of it is the idea that the devotee is a separate being from God. Remove this and what remains is Jnana - Sai Baba as cited in "The Incredible Sai Baba - The Life and Miracles of a modern-day Saint" by Arthur Osborne
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Question of the Week

Q. Is Baba's picture one with Him?
A. by Shyamasundar Davuluri

Is Baba formless or with a form after His Mahasamadhi and in which way one should worship Him? This is million-dollar question and similar questions have been popping up in the minds of seekers anxious to know about the form of the God, since unknown times. In fact the great warrior of Mahabharatha Arjuna, directly asked Lord Krishna the same question in the midst of the battlefield. " Those devotees who, even minded, steadfast, thus worship your form, and also those who worship the Imperishable, the unmanifested and formless - which of them are better versed in Yoga? (Gita XII: 1) Lord Krishna replied " Those who, fixing their mind on Me (My form) worship Me ever steadfast and endowed with supreme faith, those in My opinion, are the best in Yoga" (Gita XII: 2). This answer of the Lord hints that God has a preference to those devotees who worship Him with a form. (Though He accepts devotees from all other paths of Yoga equally.)

It is needless to state that Baba blesses all His devotees, who worship Him as SagunaBrahma (with a form) or NirgunaBrahma (formless Atman) equally. Of different paths to reach God, the path of devotion (Bhakthi yoga) is the dearest to the God. In this path of devotion or Bhakthi, the devotee always seeks His beloved God in the form of an idol or picture. The great devotees Meerabai, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu merged physically in the idol of their beloved God, Lord Krishna. The intensity of their love was so great and so forceful that Krishna used to visit, live and bless them in His physical form.

Same is the case with Sadguru Sainath.To the intense calls of His devotees He appears in unexpected forms. It is the fact of the day that the countless experiences of the devotees stand as a testimony to this truth. In Sai Satcharitha Baba reiterated His oneness with his picture. The appearance of Baba in Gaya in the form of a picture before Shama's arrival and attending the feast at Hemadpanth's house in Bombay in the form of a Chitra at the exact said time are memorable occasions of Baba's oneness with His picture.

Inviting Baba's chitra is inviting Baba to our homes indeed! Baba's presence emanates rays of peace and light. His arrival unfolds the petals of our heart to receive His divine rays. The proposed Saichitra yatra by Saibaba.org is a humble and noble venture in bringing Baba closest to our inner being. This Great Jagannath Saichitra yatra will foster love and devotion towards Baba and brings minutes of peace in these times of turmoil and terror! One need not be rich to welcome Baba, only an open and receiving heart is a requisite. How rich was Bhakth Mahalsapathi, the nearest devotee of Baba!

Shamrao Jayakar painted a beautiful life size picture of Baba and when submitted, Baba was so pleased and appreciatively remarked " This picture will live after Me! " and till date the same picture blesses all, visiting Dwarakamai.
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Sai Activities

Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra 2002 in USA organized by saibaba.org
In commemoration of the essence of Shirdi Sai Baba's message of universal goodwill and the Omnipresence of the Divinity, saibaba.org announces Shirdi Sai Baba Chitra Yatra: 2002 commencing from January 2002 in USA. The Chitra Yatra is being organized to bring peace and to invoke Shirdi Sai Baba's blessings for the benefit of devotees all over the country. He who inspired millions during His life continues to be a beacon of spiritual enlightenment even today and the objective of this event is to spread His message to the ever-growing numbers drawn to the spiritual path. Let us on this Thursday, contemplate on those beautiful stories of Sai Satcharitha and pray that Baba would provide the same happiness and satisfaction to the participants of Shirdi Sai Baba Chitra Yatra. Please visit Yatra page for more details.
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