Sai Baba met one fakir Javhar Ali about five years after his wrestling match with Mohiddin Tamboli. This fakir was learned and a scholar of Koran and had a sweet tongue. He started living in Rahata along with his disciples and bewitched the religious and devout people of Rahata. He came in some conflict with villagers when he started to build an Idgah [a wall before which Muslims pray on Idgah day] near a Hindu temple. As a result, Javhar Ali had to leave Rahata and he went to Shirdi. He started living with Baba. Here also, people were captured by his sweet talks. He gradually started calling Baba as his disciple. Baba did not object and consented to be his disciple. Then both Guru and Shishya decided to return to Rahata and live there. Javhar Ali did not know the worth of Baba but Baba knew the shortcomings of his so-called 'guru'. Nevertheless, he served Javhar Ali as his Guru with respect and sincerity.

The loving devotees of Baba did not want him to stay away from Shirdi. So, they went to Rahata to request him to return to Shirdi. They faced the wrath of the ill-tempered 'Guru' of Baba for trying to take Baba back to Shirdi. However, after some discussions, both Guru and Shishya returned to Shirdi. A few days later, a person by the name of Devidas tested the Guru. Devidas was a dispassion incarnate and a jnani. He lived in Maruti temple in Shirdi and many villagers of Shirdi regarded him as their Guru. They brought Javhar Ali in Devidas' presence and in the discussion that followed, Javhar Ali was defeated and he fled from Shirdi. Several years later, when he returned to Shirdi, he prostrated before Baba. His delusion that he was Guru and Baba his shishya was cleared. Seeing his repentance, Baba treated him with respect. This is the basic story.

There are a few interesting aspects in this story. The question arises as to why Baba accepted the discipleship of an unknown fakir. Was it because of his Muslim background In 'Life of Sai Baba', Narasimhaswamiji tells us that when Javhar Ali came to Shirdi, he saw that Baba [who looked Muslim in his appearance] had a Hindu following, worshipping him at the Masjid. He called upon Baba and asked him whether he knew the Koran and the Sharia't. Baba said he had learned neither. Thus, the fakir ordered him to accompany him to Rahata, evidently for some religious training. Baba went along with this command in spite of his knowledge of Javhar Ali's shortcomings. He observed his duties to his Guru respectfully and carefully.

Sai Baba's acceptance of Javhar Ali as his Guru, particularly when Baba had already established himself in the hearts of his Hindu devotees, emphasizes his equanimity and humility. Baba's decision to stay with the fakir must have made the Muslim minority of Shirdi happy, as they perhaps needed some assurance that Baba was of Muslim background. On the other hand, Hindu people of Shirdi going to Rahata to bring Baba back to Shirdi shows Baba's popularity amongst Hindus.

Sai Baba treated Javhar Ali with respect when Javhar Ali repented and asked for Baba's forgiveness. As in many cases, here also Baba showed through his own conduct how one should get rid of egoism, how not to harbor any grudges and how to do the duties of a disciple in order to receive knowledge.
(Contributed by Azalea Rose, USA)
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Contributed Article: Unusual Words and Sounds

On Christmas holiday, I went to my sister and brother-in-law's house. It is here that my multi-faith family gathers with their children to celebrate the exchanging of gifts in remembrance of a great Avatar spirit. For the children, it is a time of joy where Santa Claus is the presiding deity. For the elders, it is a time to meet and share our affections.

After some time, I went upstairs and sat at my 12-year-old nephew, Kirk's computer, and opened the Sai Baba.org Website. I was at the Home page of the Website, listening to the chant as my nephew ran up the stairs, brushed past me, and stopped to glance at what he considered peculiar graphics and music. He said to me, "Wow, that's scary!" while he looked at Sri Sai seated upon his chair with torch flames flickering alongside him. One of my cousin's children raced upstairs, and dragged Kirk into his bedroom to play new games on the Sony Play station. I chuckled to myself, "They are probably going to play some video game which I would find even more frightening than his mind found Sai Baba's image."

Some minutes passed. My niece came upstairs, and leaned over to look at what I was doing on the computer. I showed her an article I wrote some weeks ago and she laughed when attempting to pronounce words that were foreign to her. She remarked, "Babu, I can't even read this stuff!" I read some sentences to her and my eyes twinkled with love as I pronounced Dattatreya. Lynda laughed, gave me a hug and then walked into her room. I smiled and thought about how easily I could explain this to her in a language that she was accustomed to. Lynda is a very gifted student attending one of the best colleges in the United States. Her levels of knowledge in certain areas already far exceeds my own. I am very fortunate to be related to Kirk and Lynda.

I think about how we project our own thoughts and belief structures into everything we experience. Each person projects his or her desires upon the whole landscape of reality. Our Inner Being projects what Carl Jung termed 'the creative unconscious', upon the screen of our inner and outer world. This power is the force of Creation, as well as the force behind the illusory nature of all that is. It is how we perceive God that allows God to project through our own creative potential. Our own mind projects into reality how we perceive Sainath.

My religious background is based in a Judeo-Christian culture. It was my destiny to journey beyond its boundaries in order to expand my understanding of Self. My religious background gives me a deep affinity with Sai Baba devotees. Prayer and the miracles of the Christ are the same prayer and miracles attributed to Sai Baba. This form of worship was already developed during my childhood. My Gurudeva, Muktananda Baba sent me to Shirdi because this was where I was destined to fulfill a very important aspect in my spiritual journey. It was the deepened meditation experiences I had in Shirdi, and the further training I was blessed to receive with my Gurus, that awakened a new dimension in my being. Decades later, I am still only beginning to understand the blessings that Shirdi Sai Baba disciples bestowed upon me. For some, perhaps it seems that this is a 'holier than thou' attitude. I consider that a projection of the mind. The Siddha Gurus I worship led very difficult lives. Learning about their lives and their sadhana makes even the most austere among us cower.

Samarth Baba of Akkalkot, Sai Baba of Shirdi, and Nityananda Baba of Ganeshpuri, are beings that are unequaled in modern times. These three Masters are the Datta lineage of my Gurudevas and the river of love that flows from me to you. I remember Muktananda Baba telling me that during his travels, he met with over eighty enlightened beings. He met everyone he could find during his search. As a result, he took a great deal of time teaching his devotees how to recognize a true Master. My Babaji told us that he searched in the East, in the West, in the South, and in the North, and that when he came to Ganeshpuri, he found Him in his heart. Muktananda was initiated into monkhood by Siddharuda Swami of Hubli; an enlightened that Shirdi Sai Baba said was one with him. My Muktananda Baba went to arati in Shirdi for ten years while he lived in Yeola, a town just a short distance from Shirdi. During this time, he trained with his Gurudeva Nityananda, and came to settle in Ganeshpuri by Nityananda's request. Nityananda sent my Gurudeva Sivanesan Swami to Shirdi to settle there. Bhagawan sent Gurudeva Janananda Swami to Kanhanghad to settle there. Each day in Ganeshpuri, the townspeople sing these words during the second verse of arati, "Jaya jaya arati Nityananda, Jaya jaya arati Nityananda, Sagunarupi Govinda, Jaya jaya arati Nityananda, Manika Prahbu Tu hosi, Akkalkota Swami hosi, Shiradi Sainatha hosi, Kaliyuga Nityananda banasi, Jaya jaya arati Nityananda, Jaya jaya arati Nityananda".

I have listened to Sai bhaktas for decades saying that Sai Baba did not leave any successors, and for the most part, I remained silent concerning this issue; however, I believe that this is a misunderstanding concerning the Siddha lineage. I am not asking anyone to follow my path or change his or her mode of worship. Some Sai Baba devotees have asked me to teach them some processes my Gurus taught me. One of my Gurudeva's appointed successors told me years ago to begin initiations, when I had concerns about opening up my heart. I have been very reluctant up to now. I believe the time is ripe. The field of a true Sai bhakta's heart is so fertile and rich. It would be my honor to help. Aum Sri Datta Shirdi Sainatha. (To be continued) Robert Kirk: New York
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Experiences of Devotees

"Shri Sai Baba Chitra Yatra", support team, Saibaba.org
We the volunteers of saibaba.org are overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and the outpouring of love and devotion all across the country on the start of the pictorial journey of Baba. With people from various faiths and beliefs serving as Anchor points, it is truly a multi faith involvement in this Sai event. To a devotee in California, who is serving as an Anchor point, Baba came into her dream and gave clear indications on how to start the event at their home. While another devotee was swept in tears when she received Baba at her home. At another devotee's home Baba arrived as a blessings to the newly born. While at yet another home, he was sitting in the cold, unpacked and unopened! He prompted another devotee to visit that home to find out from the husband of the devotee who was to serve as an Anchor, that she had to suddenly leave for India. Thereby the visitor took Baba home and made sure that Baba is taken care of and the event goes on. In Los Angeles, a visiting couple from India got informed about the Yatra while visiting their friends. They tried to contact the anchor point but were informed that the picture has not reached that anchor point yet. In their desperation they were about to give up, when they got notified that Baba has already arrived at the anchor point where they could have darshan. The following lines from yet another devotee speaks of the spirit of this event. "Our Lord BABA himself gathered people in few hours and made us perform Bhajans & Aarathi . It was very good. Our hearts filled with unexpressable Joy"
Aum Sai Ram
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Devotees say...

Rachna Taneja
I would like to wish all our Sai devotees a very happy new year. May this New Year bring us more close to Baba and we follow his teachings and make this world a beautiful place to live in.

Message to our dear Sai sister Meenakshi Varma:
I feel you should not lose heart, may be it is some kind of pariksha Baba wants you to take. I can understand you because I also felt the same when I came to this place. If you are looking for Sai friends in Moscow, please feel free to get in touch with me. My e-mail address is tanejarachna@hotmail.com.
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Prayer Club

A Sai devotee
Baba my humble Pranams to you. The year 2002 did not start for me pleasant. Dear Sai, I pray to you that this year goes well and I get married to a nice girl who is your devotee and she is loving, honest, caring and understanding. Please help me in my career. Baba please be always in my heart. Thank you. My love to you and pranams.

Smita Krishna
Dear BAPU....after almost three years of confusion, restlessness, and so many difficulties...i have been able to find the strength and courage to choose something for myself in life. Bapu, please Bless me that i come out with flying colors in the coming exam that i am going to take. I beg all the dear devotees of Sai Vichaar to devote a few seconds to pray for my well-being and me.
I NEED all your blessings, prayers and of course, Baba's also to get through this crucial phase of my life. SAIRAM.

Swati
Om Sai. Dear Baba, I have prayed to You always that I should be a good devotee of Yours and have always wanted people in difficulty to be helped by You. Baba, I had prayed to You to take this particular person in Your fold and help him since he had portrayed such a sorry picture of his life in front of me. All I had always wanted was to pull him out of his troubles and depressions. Baba I had always made it clear to this person that I have no other intensions other than that of a pure friendship. You know it Baba and I have reached a point wherein other than You, Baba, no one knows the truth. He has made people believe that I have encouraged him and am now ditching him. You know the truth Baba. Please help me. I have never wronged anyone. Baba this very person is taking advantage of all the things I had done for him in the good times and using it in such a way that I am unable to defend myself. Baba, he is bent on spoiling my relationship with all my good friends. Take me out of this situation, my Lord. Please I am unable to concentrate in my work or anywhere else. The thought that this person is aiming to ruin me disturbs me a lot, although I know that Baba you will not let it happen. All I pray to You is please make him at peace with himself and keep him happy with life so that he does not think in a wrong way. God, I pray to You that if I have un-intentionally wronged him in any way, please forgive me. But please take me away from his clutches, O lord. I am unable to take this tension anymore.
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Quotation of the Week
'Purity and Love is the essence of Sai Movement' - Guruji C.B. Satpathy ji
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Question of the Week

Q. How does Sai philosophy differ from organized religions? What benefits would one derive from the life and teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi in this respect?

A.Ravin Gnanasambandam, Ithaca, NY
We all understand that Baba does not fit into any hegemonic hierarchy. He dismissed any debate over His origin or religious leaning. He remains uniquely so, by no less means a feat for the huge following Baba had over the years. In spite of the attempts made to categorize Baba to a particular sect or school over the years, He remains a Datta Sadguru, just as He is a Sufi Saint. We see Sikhs and Jains in the Samadhi Mandir, so do we Catholics standing for Shej arathi, with red roses in hand. Nothing should affect more profoundly than this fact about Sai philosophy, especially during the present times when religion is redefined to suit the individual agenda. His message stays close to the hearts where it belongs, just as if the core of the message from every religion is - truth, honesty, compassion, and humility.

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Sai Activities

Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra 2002 in USA
"Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra(Pictorial Journey)", started in USA on Jan 01, 2002. With anchor points in 32 states concurrently participating from day one, this unique event is off to a great start.

The journey which involves the ceremonial travel of Baba in the form of a portrait will stop at all Baba devotees homes who are interested in being a host to his protrait. The Yatra which will run till fall of this year, is open to one and all. There is no fees or charges involved to take part in this event. You may participate either as a host home or serve as an anchor point in your community.

Vist online at Sai Chitra Yatra for all the details and to register.

For questions, comments, suggestions or to get details on an Anchor home in your area, send us an email at maildrop@saibaba.org with the subject line of "Shri Sai Chitra Yatra".
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