Geetha pado..Ya... Quraan pado
Gur baani pado....Ya...puraan pado
Mera Sai sabhee mein samaaya
Sabh par us ki chhaaya

Whatever scripture you choose to read, Geetha, Quran or Gur Bani, you will find Sai. But, how honestly one thinks and remembers on this fact?

Good thoughts lead to good intentions; good intentions lead to good actions. Recent events and the religious riots in India must be considered as a blot to the system that has strong foundations in peace, tolerance and religious harmony. Loving our Sadguru is not complete until loving the next person regardless of his religion on orientation does not happen. Our devotion to our beloved Sadguru is not accepted until we learn to love the next Parsee or Hindu, the Muslim after and the Christian after. Let all the Sai devotees spend a moment this peaceful Thursday remembering the descriptions of Saidarbar of the old Shirdi days, where children of every religion flocked around their only father. Let our thoughts be filled with those intentions, the intentions to serve and love. It is the simplest way to seek Sadguru's attention!
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Contributed Article: Dattatreya, the ultimate Institute: An analogy!

Do you want to advance in life spiritually? Look no further than Lord Dattatreya. Lord Dattatreya is an Avatar of the trimoorthis, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva with the eternal mission of being Guru for seekers of spiritual advancement.

Advancement Institute:
Lord Dattatreya is an ocean of knowledge and an advancement institute. More importantly, He is an equal opportunity educational institute. The qualifications for admission are simple: you must have Sraddha (faith) and Saburi (patience). The admission fee is to prove that you have the qualifications mentioned above.

Every one who is interested in spiritual advancement and redemption (from their karma-phala) is welcome; no caste is barred, no creed is barred, no religion is barred, no limitations, period.

His staff includes professors from various backgrounds, lifestyles, and approaches; all professors teach the same things but perhaps slightly differently and using different techniques. You choose one or more professors as your primary advisors. Sometimes the professors choose their students. There is no need to take more than one class or from more than one professor. These professors are called Avadhootas.

When a student needs help, the student can visit a professor other than their primary advisor for assistance. The professors share the student lists and therefore each professor knows the students of the other professors.

Individual results in advancement vary but you will be assured of advancement at this institute.

History of the Institute:
Brahma created seven Maha-Rishis during the early stages of creation. Atri Maha-Rishi was the second in the seven. Atri married Anasooya, who is the daughter of Kardama Prajaapati. Atri and Anasooya wanted to have a child who is equal to the Supreme Power of the trinity (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva).

Upon advice from Brahma, Atri performed tapasya endlessly while standing in the middle of five-fires (pancha agni). As a result of Atri's penance, flames of spiritual Shakti emanated and began to engulf all the worlds. The trinity (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) appeared in front of Atri to avert the danger from Atri's tapasya and to fulfill his desire of progeny.

Instantly, a child with three heads and six hands emerged from the unified power of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The trinity requested Atri to adopt this child as his own. Atri and Anasooya were thrilled to adopt this handsome, charming, divine child as their own but expressed their desire to bear children on their own. The divine child promised to fulfill their wish in due course. The adopted (Datta) child of Atri became known as Dattatreya.

This divine child grew up to become God-Guru and Jagat Guru and an eternal Avatar for Self Realization and Redemption.

Popular Graduates of the Institute:
Devendra: When a demon-king Jambhasura attacked and dethroned Devendra from Indra-Loka, Devendra sought the advice of Brihaspati. Brihaspati suggested that Devendra should seek the guidance of Dattatreya. Dattatreya tested Devendra's Sraddha & Saburi, made sure he understood the causes for his defeat (indulgence in heavenly pleasures), and assisted Devendra in winning over Jambhasura.

KaartaVeeryaarjuna: The famous king, who was born with incapacitated hands, was able to gain one thousand hands and incredible strength through worship of Lord Dattatreya. This king ended up killing Jamadagni, the father of Parasurama, and caused the Khastriya clan to face the wrath of Parasurama.

Parasurama: Parasurama, one of the ten Avatars of Vishnu, took Dattatreya as his Guru in successfully completing the mission of His Avatar.

Popular Text Books Used in this Institute:
Avadhoota Gita by Lord Dattatreya
Jeevanmukta Gita by Lord Dattatreya
Tripura Rahasya by Lord Dattatreya revealed to Parasurama
Guru Charitra by Sri Sarasvati Gangadhar in the fifth century A.D.
Sree Guru Lilaamruta by Sri Ranga Avadhoota (disciple of Tembe Swamy)
Datta Purana by Tembe Swamy (Vasudevananda Saraswati)
Sai SatCharitra by Anna-Saheb Dhabolkar (a.k.a Hemadpant)

Roster of Professors:
Sripada Srivallabha
Sri Nrisimha Saraswati
Janardana Swami
Ekanatha
Manika Prabhu
Akkalkot Maharaj
Tembe Swamy
Yogananda Saraswati
Ramakrishna Paramahansa
Gajanan Maharaj
Samartha Satguru Sainath Maharaj
Noori Maharaj
Ranga Avadhoota
Ramana Maharshi
Guru Maharaj Narasimha Swamy
Swamy Shivananda Saraswati
Avatar Meher Baba
Swami Nityananda
Sai Padananda Radhakrishna Swamy

Call For Action:
Please join immediately in this Advancement Institute and enrich yourself with His Guidance and Blessings.

Dhyana Sloka:
Avadhootaa Sadaananda Parabrahma Swaroopine!
Videha Deha Roopaaya Dattaatreya Namostute!

**** Om Tat Sat! ****
(Contributed by Prasad V Nimmagadda)
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Contributed Poem

Om Sai Shri Sai jaya jaya Sai
Gungunate hain apke bhajan

Kya hai in shabdomein
Jis se milta hai sookh aur chaein

Tejpujya hai apki aaisi taswir
Nastikon ko kar deti hain astik

Kitni sadgi hai yeh mukh par
Daya aur prem ki shabi

Aate hein anginat bhaktajan apke dwar
Dekhne ko yeh mukhkamal bar am bar

Kar dete hai humko mohit
Jeevit karte hai hamare pran
Hota hai hamara dubara janam
Apke har darshan ke bad

Jivit ho jate hai pran
Apko yaad kartehi
Chut jate hai yeh zindagi aur
Maut ke chakravyuh se

Jana hai bahut dur is duniya se
Nadiyon aur khayiyon ke par
Hai yeh raasta bada kathin
Akele jaye to nikalna bahut mushkil
Kyonki hai har mod pe katonke kheth

Lekin kyu ghabarana
Jab sai hai Hamare dil mein,
Nahi padane denge katonpe pair
Unke sachhe bhaktonke
Balki khud zelenge kasht aur dard ko
Denge jeevan dan hum sab ko
Contributed by Aparna Sanghvi
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Experiences of Devotees

Shri Sai Chitra Yatra Host Home, Washington
by Paul Thorne

By Baba's grace, I was able to serve him as a host home during this Chitra Yatra. I received the beautiful portrait of Baba from Abika at the Kirkland, Washington anchor home and installed it in my living room for ten days. From the first, Baba's presence was strongly felt in the home. I even felt his presence very strongly in the car as I was driving with his portrait. I planned to hold puja with abhishekam and archana on Thursday, February 21. Seven people attended the puja and received the blessings of Baba. Thank you to Abika for permitting me to borrow Baba's picture.

Bindiya S
September 11 has had a deep impact on not just the victimes but also in terms of recession and unemployment rate. One of the casuality was my husband who stopped getting any contracts after Sep 11.

Soon after Sep 11 I had a dream in which I was on the plane and the plane was about to crash in the sea. I was very scared and started chanting Baba's name. Suddenly, the plane sprouted huge size air tubes on each side and the plane gently floated on to the water. As I heaved a sigh of relief, I looked around and saw everyone gaping in surprise for they could not understand how they were saved. Suddenly there was a loud voice that said," Things are supposed to be much worse than this. But due to Baba's grace you will gently float over all the troubles you will face."

Thereafter, the 6 months were full of tension since we kept eating into our savings. Mortgages, private school fees, expenditure, the bills just kept piling up. We still had immense faith in Baba but were tired of waiting for things to change. Finally, I decided to speed up the process and started Sai Satcharita parayan. The very next Thursday, my husband got the job interview.

I decided to do the parayan second time. On the Wednesday I was scheduled to end the parayan I had a dream that someone is pointing a gun to my chest. I am scared and I close my eyes to do Naam simran. The man pulls the trigger but instead of piercing me, the bullets drop off to one side. I know that I had defeated him due to Baba's grace. So I drop down on my knee and show my gratitude to God. While I am praising him for saving me, a voice says that this is the power of prayer. It can overcome anything. Only it should be done with a true heart and sincere love. Then I woke up after that.My heart was brimming with joy at the love showered on me and filled with his praises. The very next Thursday, my husband got the job offer.

Still the written confirmation was taking its own good time coming so I resolved that if it doesnot come by next Thursday, I will do another parayan. Sure enough, the written contract came on next Thursday.

If this is not Baba's miracle then what is?
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Devotees say...

Krishna Alluri, Canada
Baba, Thank you so much for your help. You have really done a miracle to us. For this, we are ever grateful to you Baba! Thousand Pranams to you from both of us!

N. Sivanandam, Coimbatore, India
Our Guruji C B Satpathyji's 'May I Answer' in www.shirdibaba.org contains very valuable clarification on many counts. One devotee raised question "What does word Sai mean?" For this Guruji answered " Protector, a husband, a religious teacher and a father. His love will manifest in many ways.

Practically no human being on the earth can give exact meaning of the word Sai. Like Atman explained in Isavasya Upanishad, Atman is one, it is both (even though the word 'both' used here, it must be considered as single entity) dynamic as well as static, it is both -far away from you as well as very close to you, it is both -contain within all as well as away from all. Hence, our Sadguru Sainath Maharaj is Paramatman, and no human meaning to the word Sai will be appropriate and suitable one.

I wish to quote an example, which is prevailing in Tamil language: In Tamil people use to call Saibaba as Sayee Baba. If you repeat the word "Sayee" several times, it gives the meaning of calling God repeatedly, Sayee, Sayee, Sayee, Sayee become Yeesa, Yeesa, Yeesa, Yeesa which is exactly calling God Almighty.

A Sai devotee
I am a SAI devotee, and I like singing bhajans and songs on SAI. I saw SAI AMRIT Vani recently on website, but I did not know how the tune goes. I want to sing it on some Thursdays with my sisters, but since I do not know the tune, I feel it will be a mere reading. Can anyone help me in this matter? Your help will be appreciated.

Ashwani Peetush
In reference to the article in last week's SV, I humbly submit that Sai's message is not about trying to develop some "uniform" religion-but seeing the unity that is already present in diversity. Not everyone who is sick needs the same medicine. Sai never asked Muslims or Hindus to abandon their particular religions. Instead, he asked them to focus on being good Muslims and Hindus, and to focus on that which is universal: compassion towards all. Strive to love and respect each other, and if this is not possible, at least strive to tolerate.
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Prayer Club

Kanchan
I am a Sai devotee,with the grace of Sai I am happy and satisfied in my life.I pray my younger sister who is 45 years old and is widow without children.she is very unhappy. I request all Sai devotees to pray for her and if possible suggest me any Sai devotee think of remarrying her and give new life and bring peace in her life. Om Sai.
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Quotation of the Week
The Guru is necessarily the perfect spiritual preceptor, but the disciple too must fulfill his obligations by cultivating in himself a true spirit of dedication to the Guru. The entire matrix upon which the relationship is founded is the familiar idea of reciprocity. The gracious act of giving by the Guru would lose much of its benefits, if the acceptance of such gifts were not equally gracious and spontaneous. - Mani Sahukar in "Sai Baba: Saint of Shirdi"
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Question of the Week

Q. Is violence justified in any scriptures?
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Sai Activities

Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra, Harrisburg, PA
Om Sai Ram! I am the Anchor Home in Harrisburg, PA. I would like to request all Sai Bhaktas in and around Harrisburg, PA, who are interested to participate in this wonderful event as host homes, to contact Kanthy at 717-652-8954.

Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra, Austin, TX
Om Sri Sairam Gurudevadatta. By grace of Sri Saibaba, we were selected as anchor home. We are indeed fortunate to be an Anchor home for Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra. If any of Sai devotees are interested in being host in Austin and/or surrounding areas, you are welcome to contact me at shamikkacker@hotmail.com or call me 512 659 4710

Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra, Palm Beach, FL
This message is to all devotees in and around Palm Beach Gardens that Baba had reached here to continue his Chitra Yatra in Florida. If anybody wants to mingle in the ocean of Sai's blessings and share their experience, please write to babusuresh31@hotmail.com. Babu Suresh Krishnan

Saidarbar Activities
Sai Satsangh was celebrated at Sivanagar colony on 26 January and 9th February 2002, in Sai Baba temple, Dilsukhnagar, Hyderabad on 17th February 2002. Saibanisa will conduct Satsangh on every third Sunday of the month. For more information on Saidarbar, please visit http://www.saidarbar.com

Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra, Twin Cities, MN, USA
Please contact Ravin or Sunitha at 763-862-3910 for Shirdi Sai Baba Chithra Yatra and Sai Satsang in Minneapolis, St. Paul area of Minnesota, USA.

Shri Shirdi Sai Chithra Yatra, Maryland, USA
I am a devotee of Sai Baba and by my Baba's grace, I am one of the Anchor homes in Maryland. This is a message to all devotees in and around Maryland that I received the picture. If any body wants to contact me, please write an email to ramana100@hotmail.com or contact me at my phone number 301-324-2476.

Shri Shirdi Sai Chithra Yatra, Belle Mead, NJ, USA
Om sai ram I am a devote of sai baba.I am one of the anchor home in belle mead NJ area.If any body wants to contact me Ph# 908-359-5357.sumita1@hotmail.com. Anyone intrested in hosting Baba's chitra please call me. Thanks Sumita

Shri Shirdi Sai Chithra Yatra, Nashua, NH, USA
I am a devotee of Sai Baba and by my Baba's grace, I am one of the anchor homes in Nashua,NH. This is a message to all devotees in and around Nashua,NH that i received the picture. If any body wants to contact me, please write an email to sai_ramesh@yahoo.com or contact me at my phone number at 603-883-5313. RameshSubramaniam

Maha Shivarathri at Injambakkam, Chennai, India
Maha Shivaraathri celebrations started with a dhuni pooza at Saipuram, Injambakkam, Chennai. This is the first Sai temple to come up under the spiritual guidance of Guruji Sri C.B.Satpathy in 1993. Trustee Smt.Manisha Bulchandani got the Dhuni pooja done in a ceremonial way as she organised Baba's Dhuni to be taken to Sri Lakshminagar Sai Temple, Hyderabad. Amidst chanting of vedic mantras and Baba's naam jap, members of Sai seva samithi, Saidabad, Hyderabad caried the dhuni. They will light the dhuni on Thursday the 14th March at Hyderabad.

Maha Shivarathri at Nagalapuram, India
Shirdi Sai Seva samithi, Nagalapuram celebrated their first anniversary on this Sivarathri day. Baba's picture was taken round the temple in a procession in a traditional way. Smt Moushumi Chakravarthy, New Delhi,sang soul stirring Sai bhajans on this occasion. Large number of devotees attended the celebrations.

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 across USA 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 yatra page 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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