It was in 1912 that S. B. Dhumal underwent an operation under chloroform. It was risky but before the chloroform began to operate, he saw Baba seated on a chair near his head and he took courage. Baba is there to look after me, he thought. The operation was a perfect success. In some private matters such as when he attended to the health of his brother's wife at Poona, Baba decided for him in a most mysterious way. He started from Nasik to go to Poona, where the sick lady was, with Rs. 80 in his pocket to cover expenses of the journey and contingent expenditure. But as Shirdi being en route, he stopped there. Baba took from him, as dakshina, all the eighty Rupees and kept him for three days with him. Then, when he asked for leave, Baba said, "We will see." After the third day, a telegram came from Poona saying that the lady had died. It is only after this that Baba gave him leave to go. It was clear that Baba could foresee the end of the lady and the uselessness of Dhumal's visit. Anyhow, that was the year in which Baba passed away and Dhumal had the precious opportunity of spending three days with him. After Baba passed away, Dhumal accepted the Revenue Membership of the Dewar State, and was the Karbari of Sarguna State from 1932-33. When he was in the Sarguna State, the Chief of the State visited him and walked into his room, where he was dining at a table. Dhumal then apologized for his inability to leave the table and accord proper reception, but the Chief had walked into the next room from where Dhumal sat, saw Baba's portrait hanging on the wall, came back to the room, and announced at once, "Your pay is increased by Rs. 50." Dhumal had never asked for it. This grant within a fortnight of his appointment, and without any effort on his part, must have been only by Baba's influence.

Mantiche Chitta Lekurache Hita (the child's welfare is the mother's care.)

Dhumal was casting chits after Baba's Mahasamadhi to ascertain Baba's orders. When Baba was in the flesh, he had a colored painted picture of Baba, and as he was passing by Dwarakamayee carrying the picture, Baba asked him, "What is it?" Dhumal said, "You are here." Baba asked for it, took it, kept it for a while, gazed at it in the front and at the back, and returned it to him saying, "Keep it". This was the very thing, which he was anxious to get - a portrait of Baba for worship, blessed by having been in his hands. That is the very picture in which Baba is standing in a pensive or meditative mood, indicative of his words, "Bhav, I had no sleep all night due to thinking of you." Baba gave him many coins, each time taking dakshina of Rs. 2/- and returning it, saying,

Japoon Teva Konala Devunnako Kars Karun Nako (Preserve these carefully. Do not give it to anyone nor spend it)

(Written by: HH Pujyasri B. V. Narasimha Swamiji, Courtesy: Vasuki Mahal Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Trust, Coimbatore-641025, India)
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Contributed Article: Bhaja Govindam Sloka 7

Contributed by Paritala Gopi Krishna, New Delhi, India

Baalastaavat Kreedaa saktah
Tarunastaavat Taruneesaktah
Vriddhastaavat Chintaasakatah
Parame Brahmani Kopi Na Saktah
Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam...

Meaning:
Baalah Taavat - so long as one is in his childhood, Kreedaa - (towards play) to play, Aasaktah - (one is) attached, Tarunah Taavat - a youth (so long as one is in youth), Tarunee - towards young women (towards passion), Saktah - (one is) attached, Vriddhah Taavat - so long as one is old (an old man), Chintaa - towards anxiety, Aasaktah - (one is) attached, Parame - to the Supreme, Brahmani - Brahman, Kah Api - any one (alas), Kopi na - no one is (seen), Saktah - attached.

Substance:
The childhood is lost in sport and play. Youth flies off in pursuits of passion. Old age passes away on thinking over many past things and in worry about the security and future of one's wife and children (pang). And there is hardly any time left for contemplation on God, as at no stage one is lost in the thoughts of Parabrahman.

Commentary:
At successive stages of life, one is engrossed in inconsequential anxieties of life. Never does one turn to the quest for true wisdom. Life is wasted in the quest of what is transient and deluding. Though aware of the delusion, at no period of one's life, does one seek to know the Real?

Life is short and the journey is too long. It is not difficult to traverse and reach the goal, but unfortunately, man is tied down to the passions and pangs of play, sex and anxieties. Deluded by these passions, one clings on to the baser things, thinking that they are gold and permanent. One forgets one's right path due to one's attachment to worldly objectives and materialistic enjoyments. Searching for happiness in mundane things, one lacerates oneself; one bleeds and soon feels fatigued and becomes a frequent traveler in the same path. In the childhood, one's attachment was to games and toys. In the youth, one's energies are dissipated in one's beloved. As age progresses and when one becomes old, one submerges oneself in anxieties and fears. All through the life, one does not get time to remember God and attach oneself to the Supreme Lord.

How to get over this delusion? The only answer to get away from this extreme sense of attachment to the world is through intelligent discrimination and detachment. One has to identify the purpose and mission of life. One has to use one's freedom to rationally judge even one's own inclinations, temperaments and tendencies, and reject them when they are found to be foolish and dangerous. This trait in man is special and one should use it to elevate oneself to the highest perfection.
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Experiences of Devotees

DK Gupta
I have been working in a World Bank Project of Government of India. In 1994-95, I was suffering from severe headache. It was so acute that the pain was unbearable. The Neurologist and Neuro-Surgeons diagnosed it a MIGRANE and treated me for about fifteen days. But there was no relief. At that time, I was not highly devoted to Shri SAI BABA, but used to visit his temple occasionally. One day I was attending a meeting in my office and suddenly my tongue got out of control and what I spoke could not be understood by any one in the meeting. Some of my friends took me to the emergency in All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. However, I was not attended properly and therefore, I was taken to a Private Nursing Home where the Neuro Surgeon was known to me and my friends. The Surgeon did MRI of Brain and was surprised to see the result. The report revealed surprising fact. It was not Migraine, but it was acute Hydrocephalus and according to Surgeon, I should have been in COMA. All fourteen surgeries were performed during 1995 to 1997. I recall, it was perhaps my 11th surgery when I asked one of my SAI DEVOTEE friends to pray to BABA for my health and asked him to put UDI on my forehead. He did it. I prayed BABA to get rid of this problem. BABA ultimately came for my rescue. After the fourteenth surgery, I was sent to a great Gentleman at SOHNA (Haryana in India) who is doing free social service by pressing nerves in the Body for such kind of ailments. He sits just below the BABA's photo and performs his social work from there. He called me for the treatment for five to six times and lastly said, "You are all right, now nothing will happen to you." In fact these were BABA's wordings. Since then, I have been performing my official, social and family responsibilities without any trouble or problem. I am fully devoted to BABA and doing social service for the poor and mentally ill people.

Satya Bollapragada
I wish to share my experience as a Sai devotee. I work for a financial organization. As part of my duties and responsibilities, I have to pass payments. We have to work under great pressure. In one case we settled a claim which was pending since a long time. During audit, it was found that due to a mistake of data entry the amount paid was twice that which should have been paid. By that time, I was transferred on promotion to another branch. The fact that a huge amount of one lakh twenty thousand had been paid was conveyed to me. Everyone in the office was wondering how this amount would be repaid for if the amount were not refunded by the party. It would be the responsibility of the person who passed the payment to make good the amount. However, I who believe in Baba and did not feel any tension and felt sure that the party would repay the amount. I do not know what gave me such confidence but some intuition and belief made me totally surrender to Baba. Believe it or not, when the party was contacted by phone he immediately asked us to come to his house to collect the check for the excess amount paid to him and the same was repaid even before the auditors completed their audit in the office. It was surprising even to me for though I had faith that the amount would be repaid I had not expected that it would be repaid in a lump sum. Even the auditors were surprised for it was for the first time that such a big amount was released without any delay. But I feel that it was Baba's mercy that saved me. As Baba always preached if we surrender completely to him, he will take care of us. All human beings should work with the feeling that they are acting as per the orders of God and offer everything to him without caring for loss or gain. Thus, Sai Baba himself told us what to ask and what not to ask for loss or gain.
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Devotees say...

Pradip Prasad Koirala, Nepal
I want to share one of the recent blessings, I received from Baba. My son Sudhamsu Koirala is a medical student in Chittagong, Bangladesh. I had a dream at Dec8, 2002. In my puja place, I have Ceramic made Baba's image where I used to pray Baba for Sudhamsu's Success in Study and his health. On the night of Dec 8, 2002, I dreamt that the ceramic image of Baba has created Kumkum and Yellow Vibuti. There were three flowers on a small iron image, which was also on pooja place in the dream. Sudhamsu is in fourth year, the fourth year is very difficult for medical students. Sudhamsu is now on holiday in Kathmandu, when he reached home, he told me that his Viva examination in Forensic medicine is not good and he will be failing on that subject. But I was not convinced, as Baba had already given indication that he will pass in all the Examination in the dream. The result was out in Feb 23 and he has passed in all the subjects. Baba's leela made this possible. Baba Please take care of Sudhamsu's eye health and education. Take care of all the Sai devotees of the World.
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Prayer Club

Shalini Karthik
Om Sai nathaya namah: Baba, I had a miscarriage last year and that time I was not very much into praying you. But after reading the book "Shri Sai Satcharitra", there was a lot of difference in my thinking and I started growing lot of faith in you. Now everyday I think about you so many times. The book took away my depression because of the incident. But Baba we are trying for a baby now and I pray to you that you make me mother soon and bless my husband and me. This is the only wish I have, as I want to start a beautiful family. Om Sai ram!

Shefali
Dearest Baba, Please help to get this opportunity. It is like a great hope for our bright future and end to all problems. Please Baba, bless me and be with me all the time.

Sai devotee
Please do give happiness and prosperity for our family. I know you've been watching my brother-in-law suffering because of his disease for a long time, I consider this letter reaches you directly and I do believe the theory of Karma, But Please do cure his disease as soon as possible.

A Sai devotee
You very well know of the problem I that I have been facing for almost five years now. This problem has caused me immense trouble, anxiety and stress. I don't feel like going anywhere. Sometimes it even makes me wonder why am I living. I have been praying to you all this while to help me get rid of this problem forever. I know you have helped me a lot in my life. Baba, why don't you help me with this problem. On the surface, it may seem that this is a very minor problem compared to the other problems I have faced. But Baba, since you are the divine father you know that this problem is not a minor one for me. Please Baba, help your child. Devotees, please pray Baba to help me. I will ever be grateful. Thanks.

Baba Devotee
You know my past; I am praying you to join me in marriage with the person I love from past seven years. His parents are against this. He doesn't want to go against them. You know how much I am into this relationship. I am begging you to make his parents agree to our marriage and give him confidence to stand for me. Please make our marriage happen Baba; I don't have any more patience. Please bless us to get married Baba. I am begging you sincerely. Please hear my cries and pleas regarding my life's major step. Let this marriage happen.

Devotee
Om Sri Sai Ram Sai, only you now truly know the problem I have. Please ensure that everything turns out well. I am sorry if I have done something wrong. Please forgive me .I want to have your blessings now and forever in my life.

Sai Devotee
Dear Baba, Please help. I am having trouble adjusting to this new place. My husband is working late hours. I need your support to help him find a new job, thiat will help him grow. Please help. We need your love. Please dont leave us.

Ananthashayanam
Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai. Baba, please save me from the clutches of financial problems. Baba, please give good health to my son and good education. Baba, please guide my son properly for writing the examinations. Baba, please be with him while writing the examinations. Baba, I am pray to you everyday. Baba, I am in deep trouble. Baba, please save me. Baba, in my house things are not good. Baba, please save me from this problems. I request all the Sai devotees to pray for my son who is writing the examinations. Please pray to Baba for getting good marks ifor my son.

Sai devotee
Pranamamulu, my husband is awaiting his visa from the Canadian Embassy, New Delhi. It is more than five months that we submitted the application for the visa processing, it is moving slowly. Baba please see that it moves fast and my husband gets his visa at the earliest. Give us a chance to serve you together throughout our lives and be helpful to the needy and also bless us that we don't deviate from the right path and our bhakthi towards you increses day by day. Also bless us, our parents and siblings and their families to be healthy, wealthy and happy throughout their lives.

A Sai Devotee
Om Sai Sri Sai, I pray to Sai please give good health to all my family members and please help my daughter to find a suitable match soon. Please Sai Baba listen to my prayers good me good health.

V. Prasad
Lets not have any doubts that we are being continuously blessed by the almight at all times in one form or the other. I am a regular reader of Sai Vichaar, especially the editorial. I have been time and again blessed by Sai Maharaj and he has also blessed me with His feet in silver at Guntur. I noticed them closely and found a small hitch in one of his feet and since then I was doubting mentally that it meant something, good or bad. I was of the feeling that it was a sort of wound which pains him. He clarified my doubts by replacing the silver feet with wooden ones, this time with a bigger size. I consider myself very lucky to have such close interaction with him, mentally. Right now, I am waiting for my visa to Canada. Its over two months since I have posted my passport to the canadian embassy. For reasons beyond my imagination, there is no response from the embassy whether they are in receipt of my passport nor any information regarding the issue of the visa. I pray Sai Maharaj to grace his blesses upon me and see that I receive the visa at the earliest and meet my wife who is eagerly waiting for my arrival in Canada. We shall worship Sai unitedly lifelong.
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Quotation of the Week
"Unless He will it, nobody can do any harm to others. The world is all-dependent on Him, and no one is independent. So we should take pity and love all creatures, leave off adventurous fights and killings and be patient. The Lord (God) is the Protector of all"-Sai Baba of Shirdi
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Question of the Week

."What is the nature of that Viveka (knowledge) which leads to Vairaagya (detachment)?"
A. by R. Sridharan

It is often understood that Viveka or the knowledge is the instrument, which breaks open many doubts in a human. Petals of doubts blossom automatically when the rays of Viveka touches these petals. Vairagya is nothing but the detachment comes to a human one who realizes the reality of life. Not all know that there exists an element of Viveka in one's self but when surrendered to a Guru, this Viveka tries to grow and enables one to understand the existence of some super power that creates, protects and even destroys. Knowledge is not always taught but it is built-in in every individual. The LORD is a professional Chartered Accountant who balances the Books of Account of this World. When there is truth, there should be a false or a lie. When there is a sun, there should be a moon and when there is good, there should be bad. Likewise when there is Viveka there should be Vairagya because Viveka or the knowledge is the Engine that is followed by a compartment of detachment. When attached to the Viveka, the detachment or the vairagya is understood. We should surrender at the Lotus Feet of the SAI with this Viveka so that may HE bestow us the Vairagya, the detachment from the materialistic world so that we always remember HIM and HIS glories.
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Sai Activities

Join us for Mahashivratri on the net
Saibaba.org will be broadcasting full day program on the Internet from 6.00 am CST on Saturday, March 1st 2003. Devotees are invited to join us by visiting www.saibaba.org and following the Shivaratri link from the time mentioned above. Please note that this link will not be available before start of the program. To view the program you will need Windows Media player 7.0 or above, Microsoft Internet explorer 5.0 or above or Media player plugin for your favorite browser and Internet connection speed of 56 Kbps or above. For questions please send an email to maildrop@saibaba.org.

Annadanam seva (Feed the hungry service) from saibaba.org
Saibaba.org is designating the month of March 2003 as Annadanam (Feeding the hungry). Annadan is considered as the noblest means of charity and Baba did this for His children. The proposed venue and dates information on the annadanam seva to be held in March 2003 are as follows:

1. Venue: Leper's Colony, RKPuram Delhi: There will be bhajans followed by feeding dinner to all residing in the colony every Thursday in the month of March. This activity is being coordinated locally by Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in RK Puram in Leper's Colony, Delhi.

2. Venue: Spatics Society, Gudgaon, Haryana. There will be feeding to mentally retarded and handicapped residents of Spastics Society every Friday of the week in the month of March. Sai Prakash Spiritual and Charitable Trust, Gudgaon are coordinating this activity.

3. Venue: Saipuram, Chennai. There will be annadanam at Saipuram after Shej Arathi every Thursday of the week in the month of March. This activity is being coordinated by Shirdi Sai Spiritual and Charitable Trust, Saipuram, Injambakkam, Chennai

4. Venue: Shirdi Sai Mandir, Nagalapuram, Chittoor. There will be two annadanam services at this location one on 13th march and another one on 27th March, 2003. Shirdi Sai Seva Sangam, Nagalapuram, Chittoor are coordinating this activity.

5. The annadanam seva will end in partnership with Food Bank to serve the hungry here in USA. This activity is to be coordinated by Illinois Food Bank, IL.

Those interested, please visit the Annadan page on the website or send an email to maildrop@saibaba.org.

Ramanavami - Urs Celebrations - Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Minnesota, USA
By the grace of Sadguru Sainath, Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Twin Cities, Minnesota is preparing to celebrate the Ramanavami - Baba's Urs festival on April 12 at Geeta Ashram, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. The program will include Sai Shodasopachara Pooja, Sai aarthis, Sai naama Jap, Flag and Chandan procession, Bhajans, Kids programs, and Palki Seva to Baba. For details, please contact hamaresai@yahoo.com. or call Sangeeta (651-481-6782), Kiran (952-233-1819), Ravi (651-342-0600) Bhuva (651-681-2042) or Sathya (651-739-2105). Regular Sai activities in the Twin Cities, MN are being conducted at Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, 725 Lake St NE, Apt #139 Hopkins MN.

Shirdi Sai Baba Chitra Yatra And Weekly Satsang, Canada
Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan of Canada, Toronto, cordially extends to all the best wishes for the New Year hoping with Baba's grace you will leap into 2003 with prosperity health and happiness and invites you all to for Thursday satsang at the following 2 locations: Durga Temple, 2691 Markham Rd. Scarborough, ph: 416 754 2983 and Shri Vithal Hindu Mandir, 5359 Timber Lea Blvd. Mississauga, ph: 905 238 0946. between 6:15pm to 7:15pm.

We invite all devotees in Canada to join us in celebrating "Shri Ramnavami festival 2003 in Toronto. Devotees joining from outside Toronto looking for accommodation please register by 25th of February - devotees interested in volunteering or those interested in offering bhajans to Baba pls call Shammi Chopra 416 402 8089 from 7 to 9am or after 9pm in the evening.

Shirdi Sai Satsang, Houston, TX
Shirdi Sai Jalaram Mandir, Houston, Texas, USA cordially invites you for Thursday satsang at the following location: 5645 Hillcroft, Suite #304, Houston, Texas, 77036 between 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

Sri Shirdi Sai satsangs in Auckland,New Zealand
Sri Shirdi Sai Sansthan,NZ is celebrating Sri Ramanavami on the Sunday 13th April 2003 at the Mt Eden war memorial hall, Mt Eden, Auckland. The morning will start with reciting Sri Sai Sahasranamavali, followed by Bhajans, Pravachan, Arathi and Maha Prasad. Also all Sai devotees are invited to participate in Sai Bhajans, discourse and arathi every Thursday at 7:30 pm.The venue is located at Balmoral Mandir, Balmoral, Auckland, NZ. For more details please contact Dr Ram Prasad at prasads@quicksilver.net.nz.

Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra 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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