Faith and Patience (or forbearance) are one of the most commonly used words in Sai literature and readily recognized by most of Baba's devotees. The Webster dictionary describes faith as (a) belief and trust in and loyalty to God; (b) complete trust or firm belief in something; (c) allegiance to duty or a person with strong belief and conviction. Forbearance or patience is described as (a) the quality to hold oneself back from especially with an effort; (b) to control oneself, hold back or abstain under provocation or strain; (c) not being hasty and being steadfast despite opposition, difficulty or adversity;(d) being able or willing to bear any situation.

Baba spoke about Faith and Patience to Radhabai Deshmukh who had sought a mantra from Baba and had gone on to fast till Baba answered her prayers. While talking to her, Baba went on to narrate the story of his Guru and how his guru asked for Daskshina in the form of two pice -Faith and Patience. Baba had this to say, "Courage, O Mother, is really the same as this forbearance or patience. Never cast it away. Whenever faced with a difficult situation, it will take you across safely. This forbearance is the essence of manliness in a man that overcomes sin, suffering and adversity; averts disaster ingenuously and drives away all fear. Forbearance or patience alone succeeds; it scuttles calamities away in all directions. The thorns of thoughtless indiscretion prick no one here. Forbearance is a mine of virtue, the queen of the noble, virtuous thought. Unswerving faith is its own sister, both being to each other, dearer than life itself. Without forbearance, the plight of man is pitiful. Be he a learned man or a virtuous man, without it his life is futile. Himself, the Guru may be very powerful, but from the disciple he expects only a penetrating insight, unwavering faith in the guru and the strength of a courageous forbearance".

After narrating the story, Baba said to Radhabai, "You now go and eat some food; do not put your life in danger. Only just have steadfast faith in me and spiritual progress will come to hand. You look to me with single-minded devotion, and I will look after you, similarly. My guru never taught me anything else." (Chapter XVIII) Hence, Faith and Forbearance are the two pillars on which Sai path is built. The devotees of Shri Sai who lived with him, imbibed these qualities in them and worked very hard to preserve these and constantly receive his grace. Faith and the unswerving trust that devotees who lived with Baba exhibited, was recounted in the article "H.S.Dixit - the devotee par excellence" by Guruji Shri C. B. Satpathy in the first issue of Sai Heritage.

Baba not only talked about these qualities but helped devotees attain it by his constant companionship and grace. One of the many devotees that was helped in this way was Shri G.S.Khaparde. Sri Khaparde a prominent attorney and political activist of Amroati came to Baba to seek help and to be saved from getting prosecuted by the then British Government. He came to Shirdi in December 1911 and was forced by Baba to stay on under some pretext for ninety-eight days. Shri Khaparde's diary recounts each day of those times. Some recounts from the diary mention how Khaparde's had to live practically with no money, faced much criticism from family and friends and how they went through emotional and financially difficult times.

In constant company of Shri Sai, Khaparde's developed the forbearance to tide over their crises and further immensely benefited by Baba's grace. The next one that comes to mind is Shri Damuanna of Ahmednagar. Damuanna once wanted to go for commodity trading. Lured into as a risk free business, He and his friends made big plans but Damuanna's faith came in between and he made a decision to act only on Sai's advice. Shri Sai's advice came in the negative totally shattering all the dreams and plans made by Dammunna. Ridiculed by his friends for not joining him, he was dejected but was forced to develop the qualities of patience and finally was greatly relieved when he found out after a few months how his friends suffered a great loss on that trade and he was saved. Another one who got tremendous help was Shri Upasani Baba. Upasani Maharaj was made to stay in Shirdi much against his will and grinded in the lessons of faith and patience on regular basis by Shri Sai. At times he was ordered to stay in seclusion, he was told to give up his medicinal practice. He was interjected and reprimanded when he went around giving lectures. The patience that Smt Baija Bai had in walking miles in the jungle daily, hunting down Shri Sai and feeding him before herself eating, is difficult to fathom. The faith and patience that Shri Mahlsapahti, Shri Tatya, Shri Abdul Baba, Shri Shyama and other villagers developed in Shri Sai's Company can be gauged while reading various stories in Shri Sai Satcharita. Many devotees like Shri H.S.Dixit, Shri Sathe, Shri Chandorkar, Shri Das Ganu, Shri Hemadpant, Shri Booty and many more who came from far away were helped by Shri Sai and even today Shri Sai helps those who approach him.

Faith and patience are not some mere words to be spoken, read, understood or reminded when one comes across; they have to be put into practice and become part of one's life. Faith and Patience are not another mantra but results from active participation and involvement of the person on a constant basis. One has to toil and work very hard every second to develop unswerving faith and patience in the master. Like a barometer, one has to constantly monitor their levels of faith and patience on an ongoing basis. At every bend of life's road, our faith and patience are tested, that too in all situations good or bad, happy or unhappy. Baba asked on one occasion, "Is there any one who will serve me as I served my Master? (i.e. with faith and forbearance)". Each one has to answer this question for themselves.
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Contributed Poem: Sai Shakthi!

Contributed by Suresh W. Raspayle

Sai,
Remembering your name,
I always feel the gentle enduring freedom.
No thoughts about anything,
No needs,
No becoming,
And all my wants and desires melt.
I know, it's an illusion that
I am special,
And I am important.
When Your flood of gentleness ensues,
I find myself swept away
In a torrent of Your compassionate tenderness
And love.
I exist not.
And have been replaced by You,
The Sai Shakti,
Pervading everything, everywhere
Oh, The Real One!
Now, there is nothing more to attain,
Ever.

Contributed Article: Bhaja Govindam Sloka 10

Contributed by Paritala Gopi Krishna, New Delhi, India

Vayasi Gate Kah Kaamavikaarah
Sushke Neere Kah Kaasaarah
Ksheene Vitte Kah Parivaaro
Gyaate Tattve Kah Samsaarah
... Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam

Meaning:
Vayasi gate - when the age (youthfulness) has passed, Kah - where is, Kaamavikaarah - lust and its play, Sushke Neere - when water is evaporated (dried up), Kah - where is, Kaasaarah - the lake, Ksheene vitte - when the wealth is reduced, Kah - where is, Parivaarah - the retinue, Gyaate tattve - when the Truth is realised, Kah - where is, Samsaarah - the Samsaara.

Substance:
When youth is gone, where is the lust and its play? When water is evaporated, where is the lake? When the wealth is reduced, where are the relatives? When Truth is realized, where is the (snare of) Samsaara.

Commentary:
Without any doubt, the only unfailing remedy for the sorrows of life in this Samsaara is knowledge of the self. Any kind of sorrow of life will cease on its own accord upon the dawn of the knowledge of the self. One is afflicted by sorrows so long as there is delusion in the mind. The only true path available for a sadhaka to remove delusion is wisdom. Good conduct, character and devotion are necessary to secure wisdom. By mere bookish knowledge one does not get wisdom. (The writer of this commentary is the best and readily available example of this fact.) There is a lot of difference between bookish learning and knowledge of the self. By drawing three beautiful analogies, Sri Adi Sankaracharya brings home the point to explain how it is possible.

The lust and its play will bind one in maddening passion so long as one is in youthfulness with hard muscles, tight skin, stormy blood and one is young and hearty. When the old age knocks the door, all acts of lust will just vanish on their own accord.

As long as one is in the grip of desires, whether one is young or old, one strives to fulfill them. But, when once these desires are dried up, one is freed from all problems. When the water dries up, the lake loses not only its form and existence but also its meaning and utility. So is with our emotions and desires. Once the dawn of life sets in, the passion and lust lose their grip on our body; thereby one is liberated from the pangs of all worldly problems.

When wealth is reduced and one becomes poor, all the relations disappear into nowhere. One will enjoy name and fame as long as one is rich. Once one loses one's wealth, even one's own family members may not turn back to help.

After giving the above three analogies, Sri Adi Sankaracharys asks the sadhaka that when the Truth is realized, where is the Samsara? Even the most persistent sorrows will be cured by the true knowledge of the self, as with the dawn of wisdom, man's native powers will assert themselves. One cannot seek true fulfillment in life by striving to acquire and possess the outer world. The misconceptions must end and one should know the Reality, as only Truth will eliminate the false ego and its meaningless achievements.
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Experiences of Devotees

Vadlamani Srilakshmi
Om Sairam. Dear devotees of Sai, I would like to share my experience that happened on last Saturday in Sai ka Aaangan, Gurgaon. This may sound trivial for some but it was really a great experience for me, which I would like to pen. We were planning to shift to Gurgoan as we are taking our own flat by Baba's grace. From the very day, we were thinking that if there were any Sai Mandir nearby we could have his darshan. To my surprise in one of the articles, I found that there is one place like that called " Sai ka Aangan" in Sushant lok Block -C which is very near to our premises. Thanks to the devotee for providing the details. After that, we made it a point of going there whenever we visit our flat (being constructed). For the first time we visited the temple with some difficulty in tracing the exact location. Anyway, Sai helped us in our Trial. Last week's visit was our second and I Baba gave such a wonderful experience that my eyes flooded with tears to know how he takes care of his devotees in each and every matter. How much merciful he is? By the time we reached the mandir it was 2.15pm. By that time, mandir was closed. We don't know the timings. Some devotee told that it will be opened at 3.30 pm and enquired from where we had come n he requested to wait n have Darshan. We were feeling terribly hungry since we did not even had our breakfast and our one year old son was not well. We decided to stay back and go only after having darshan but feeling restless due to hunger. We took a round in the temple premises. Such a beautiful and serene place can't be expressed in words. Such a calm, holy and peaceful atmosphere that you forget you are in a highly polluted atmosphere and hectic life in Delhi and Gurgoan. Some devotees were taking lunch near the kitchen. I wanted to ask some prasad but did not. I felt that if Baba knows our hunger he would definitely arrange for some prasadam. Thinking that we took a round and coming back.

One maataji enquired about us as if she knows us and requested to stay back and have Darshan. She turned back to the kitchen and again turned towards us and asked " Prasad khayenge". These words are from Baba only I strongly believe. Really, tears started pouring from my eyes to know how merciful my Baba is. He asked about us through that devotee. Really, a joyful and self-realizing experience. She gave us a plate of rice with daal and curry. It was so tasty and we relished the prasadam like any thing. Our son also ate the prasadam with joy though he had fever. He played in the premises with great joy as if he knew the place without any fear forgetting his fever. The experience is great that I decided to share with my fellow devotees. I realized why Baba always told Annadaan is the greatest charity and how any person who is hungry gets satisfaction. It is great to encourage annadaan. That's why our scriptures say " Annadaanam maha daanam" and " annadaata sukhibhava".

Sudha, S.K
My Dear Almighty, I have posted an article praying that I got a call from a company and I was about to attend technical interviews. Baba, with your grace, I have successfully completed the interviews and I was given an offer. It is all like a miracle to me. I could never imagine that I would get a job where I wanted to get and it is a very good company, which I always dreamt of. I can't still believe I got an offer in that company. Baba, it is all your grace which made me comfortable in attending the interviews. There are still few things the employer has to check. Baba, please help me. I know that u would take care of all other things. I am sure U R always there for me.
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Devotees say...

Srihari Vezendla
Baba, I know you are with us and bless us everyday in numerous ways. However, some of the decisions I made in last one year haven't really been really wise. I pray you to help me make good decisions so that I am not at the predicament I am right now. Baba please put me out of this agony and help me lead a normal life once again. Nothing is unknown to you and nothing is beyond your ability, Baba please....please remove the obstacles from our path and help us achieve our goals. Bless us and give us peace of mind.

Tina Grover
Dear Lakshmi, Don't ever feel sad or annoyed with anyone if someone does not believe in Baba. When Baba who is the supreme power never gets annoyed with anyone who does not believe in him, then I feel how can we be angry. My own experience tells me that there is no need to force anyone to believe in Baba. Have faith in Baba; he will surely find a way out.

Nirmala
I would like to narrate a similar experience of a dear family member who went through a similar experience. She was waiting for a transfer to Bombay where her in-laws lived after her wedding. When she visited them for a month in between while waiting, she was up at 4:30 AM, finished her pujas in time, helped the family (it was a joint family comprising of a couple of brothers-in-law, their children, a mother-in-law etc.) get ready for their respective chores. During the day, since she was free, she used to visit a public park where the "Bhagwat" was expounded for a week. Each day, she would take some flowers and some puja materials, go there and spend about 4 hours listening, then come home and help the family with dinner, serving the members of the house as and when they came from their work, before retiring around 11 PM each night. Instead of supporting her, she was ridiculed similarly by her sister-in-law for being such an ardent devotee and not concentrating on the house. She kept quiet and endured it all, steadfast in her belief and only thinking that the others are ignorant. Despite her leave situation, she was repeatedly told that she would come to Bombay only if her in-laws told her that there were all these Bhajans/pujas/Bhagwat pravachan going on, not otherwise. She bore all patiently, never saying a word to explain - what was there to explain to a bunch of ignorants? Baba responded in the form of her younger sister-in-law who happened to notice this while she was on a visit. She stood up for her and everything turned out alright. While her in-laws did not become devout, they at least started respecting her and stopped the taunts. So, please bear in mind that Baba never disregards His Bhaktas, He testes their mettle and at appropriate time, will respond to it. All you have to do is maintain your steadfastness in devotion to Him- the rest are all His Maya.

Sai Devotee
Om Sai Ram . I am very greatful to you for You made me your devotee . I wish everyone will get this opportunity as soon as possible in their life and be blessed by You . O Sai I thank you for you made me realise the value of human life . Ever since I saw you , I changed a lot by making myself to understand who am I ? what for I am on this earth ? . I thank you for I understood that happiness is not in the assets we earn , but it can be felt by serving others who are in need of help . I understood that "krodha"[angyness] ,"dvesha"[enemity] and things like these will take one to a wrong path where one gets worries , unnecessary tensions leading problems to others etc. So I request everyone to have patience and devotion which will lead one to the true path given by Sai. O Sai I thank you for you gave me the strength to overcome my problems and move with everyone around me with affection. I wish I always see people with simles on their faces . Everyone on this earth are equal under you, then why should I differentiate my family members from others. I wish everyone's problems will get solved by your holy grace and I wish everyone's wishes are blessed by You. Please Baba bless everyone with happiness and good health .

If people around laugh at us for we are praying to Sai , then let them . But we should not get frustrated and become angry towards them . Baba says everything can be got by love , afftection, patience and devotion . By these one can always be at Sai's feet. Baba says we should also love people who hate us . If the help is out of our reach , then pray to Sai with pure heart . One should realise that Sai is with us always . Baba please bless everyone .

Leena
I am a girl of 19 years and have just been attracted to Baba's preachings. I would like to know why devotees of Baba say "Om Sai Ram". Why RAM ? Hope that I would get an answer.
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Prayer Club

Pradeesh Kumar S
Om Sri Sairam, I happen to get a mail from the universities' Indian students association about Vidyaranya Nanduri, a student from Hyderabad, who is suffering from bone marrow cancer (Acute Myelogenous Leukemia). It is very sad to see that this student had to go through this pain while being away from his family. Baba you gave him this education and blessed him to reach US for his higher studies, Sairama, kindly give him the strength to recover from this illness. Dear Sai devotees, please take a minute to pray for this student. To know more about the student and help him please contact Satish Motipalli by email at satish@ksu.edu.

A Sai devotee
Baba, I know you are with us and bless us everyday in numerous ways but recently there is some hurdle or the other that is coming our way. It seems there is some unknown force that is preventing us from doing what our heart wants to do. You are Sarva Shaktiman, nothing is beyond you. Please remove the obstacles from our path and help us achieve our goals. Bless us and give us peace of mind.

A devotee
Dear Baba, You know about my current situation. I am praying for a job for such a long time. It is more than a year I had a job. Why are you not listening to my prayers? I am begging you with tears at your feet. Please forgive me if I have done anything wrong. Please help me get a job by the end of this month baba. You I wouldn't have a place to live any further. Please Baba bless me with a job. I can't live in this country like this anymore. Please hear my prayers Baba you know what is going on in my life. Pl Baba help my husband to get a job otherwise my married life will be destroyed. My husband is totally depressed and planning to go back to India. I have been married just 9 months. He is not willing to live with me. Baba I know you can save my married life and our family. Baba you always heard my prayer. I know you will help me out this time too. Baba I know you can do miracle. Baba please bless my family. Om Sai.

K Subramanian
My sincere prayer to Lord Sai Maharaj
1. Maharaj, Please bless me with your hands and offer me a senior role in my organization. Please bless me for a proper and suitable job allocation. Please never make me report to any of my juniors. Lord, I am very anxious about this. With your kindness and grace, I should work comfortably, with self-confidence and with full interest and happiness at my work place.
2. Sainath, please bless my youngest brother so that his marriage this month end at your temple in Injambakkam (Chennai) be performed very well and he leads a happy and healthy life with his wife. Your grace should protect them well always. Please be with them.
3. Sai Maharaj, please bless my daughter to study with full devotion and interest and do very well in her annual exams which started this week.
Sai Maharaja, please remove my fear and anxiety in my heart about my continued back-pain problem and official job allocation. Please hold me always. Please bless my family and me and be with us forever. With my promotion order in my hand, I should visit Shirdi very soon. My humble request to all devotees of Sai Maharaj to spare few seconds to pray for us.

A Sai devotee
Om Sairam, Baba thank you for all that your have given to us till today it is through your grace that I have achieved so much in life. Baba when I feel down in life all what I think is about you and then everything seems right. Baba I have always wished good for others only at times when people hurt my feelings I feel so bad that I sometimes think something bad should happen to them even though deep in my mind I really don't mean it. Please forgive me for having bad thoughts. Forgive the sins which I have committed help me baba to think of positive things and do good to others. Baba today I beg you baba we have a child in our family who is ten months old who fell sick from the day she was born she had fever and jaundice she does not do her activities which the normal child has to do she has not go strength on her back and neck still she does not crawl still. Baba doctor has told that she has to undergo physiotherapy then only she will be a normal child. Baba she is undergoing the treatment where her parents don't have enough money to spend on her. Baba I beg you baba please lay your hands on the innocent child's body today and give the child enough strength to walk and sit and move around. Baba let that innocent baby not suffer because of the sins the other people may have committed in the family. Baba please after you hear my prayer show me your strength make that child sit within a week time and then in few months time give the child strength to walk and then I promise I will bring the baby to show it to you at Shirdi and thank you for everything you have done. Baba I beg you baba bless the little child; lay your hands on the innocent child and make her grow up to be a normal child. I know you will not let me down. I request all the readers even though you don't know the baby please for one minute close your eyes and pray to Baba for the innocent baby to become normal and let her enjoy her life.

Sai Devotee
Baba, I don't know what to write or why I am writing here - you already know everything, maybe you want me to write here. I have nothing special to write - just like many many others, I feel like I'm at a dead end and am one amongst many others who wish you would sort everything out very soon. Please help all those who are in urgent need, I know there are many who need you more crucially than I do - and then could you please help me out too? I am running low on both faith and patience I think - I don't know what to do, how to help myself, maybe writing to you here will give me some peace for some time being if nothing else - anyhow, I offer all of myself at your feet, my good, my bad, my doubts, everything and I thank you for all that you have done for me. Please keep your protection and blessing over us all. Om Sai Krishnaya Namah!

Pradip Kumar Koirala
I am the devotee of Baba since 1990. I performed kakad and evening arati every day at my home. I have also visited Shirdi five times. By the divine grace of Baba, my son is a medical student and is now in final year. But since the first year of his study, he has suffered eye allergy problem and has allergy attack many times. Recently, he had severe attack and we had to rush him Madras for treatment. I have been praying BABA for this problem and also performed SATYA NARAYAN POOJA twice in Shirdi for the same. But the problem has aggravated and vision in the right eye is being lower. I therefore request all the Sai devotee to pray Baba for the cure of eye problem of my son.

Sai Devotee
Om Sai Nath, I am a staunch believer in You. I am trying to be more staunch and to hold your feet tight. I live in Windsor, Ontario,Canada. We are 3 months old to this place. My husband is looking out for a job.He has got one which may not suit his health. But he has taken it up since he feels some flow of income will be there for the family. We have a 6 year old son for whose sake we have moved to this place. You know all about it. With Your permission we have come to this place. Please show us the right way quickly. The wait is painful.You know my feelings. I have a brother at USA who is also hunting for a job. He and his wife are Your great devotees.You have made him wait patiently for such a long period. You know very well that he needs a decent job immediately. Dont make us wait anymore. My in-laws, parents and other well wishers are anxious. Please show us the right way.You have never made Yourself appear before us. Please guide us. IT IS IN YOUR HOLY HANDS TO BRING WORLD PEACE AND END ALL CHAOS OF THE WORLD.

Shalini
Dear Baba, thank you for all that you have done for me.I thank and praise you but for the last three months I have no job from where I can earn. Baba people also ask me about my marriage and I have no answers for that because you have all the answers for that..Baba please unite me to the man who is made for me..I request everyone to please pray for me...Baba are you angry and if yes then please forgive me for I am your daughter and please give me stability emotionally as well as financially. Amen

Sai Devotee
Baba you know everything .Baba please help my parents and make them understand the importance of life . Even though they have everything for a good life they lack happiness . Make them to follow you . I tried to my best , but in vain . Baba you only can help them. My husband is not having job since one and half years . You have given us strength to live happily in whatever we have. I greatful to you for a got such a wonderful person as my lifepartner . You know that he is your devotee .I understand that whatever you do , it is for our good .He's trying very hard to get into a job. Baba please show him a good way . Despite of following bad times , he never allowed his shadow of depression to fall on me . Please help him Baba . Please put us always in right path Baba.
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Quotation of the Week
"The Master cannot disclose all His greatness at once, but only in proportion as an aspirant shows His keenness and makes progress on the path. The Master starts just like an ordinary teacher and imparts instructions as any friend or well wisher would do. In course of time, He demonstrates the authority of a Master on the path, and finally is seen embedded in Truth as Sadguru or the Master of Truth; until there comes a stage when He and God appear merged in each other with no line of demarcation between them"-Guru ji Shri C.B. Satpathy ji
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Question of the Week

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

A. by Ravin Gnanasambandam, Minnesota, USA

Most of our utterances are from the "knowledge" that we acquire from the books and other outward sources. The outward-bound senses and the intellect are more preoccupied in putting into practice everything it absorbs. This includes even the discrimination it exercises over wanted and the unwanted. How can we discriminate between the real and unreal using our intellect, which itself is unreal! So, what we think as discrimination is almost always between unreal and unreal. How could one "think" of detachment being attached to the thought of detachment (freeing oneself)! It sounds awkwardly ignorant! Great souls stressed the importance of knowing the nature of the "self". Baba has placed enormous importance to this aspect of saadhana, in his own subtle ways. The substance that one would acquire due to constant contemplation on the self is probably the means to attain the detachment, if not the detachment itself; detachment not as a goal but as a consequence to the process of contemplation. Only Sadguru is capable of imparting such guidance and none else!
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Sai Activities

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 on this and next 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 on this and next Friday 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 on this and next Thursday 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.

Devotees who are interested to participate may do so by visiting 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

Shri Shirdi Sai- Ramnavami celebrations in Bay Area,California
We welcome everyone to join us for SHRI SHIRDI SAI- RAMANAVAMI Celebrations in the Bay Area, CA on Sunday April 6th, 2003 between 5:00pm - 8:00pm. AGENDA: 108 Shirdi Sai Namavali, Sai Satcharitra Parayana (Chap 6), Sai Mahima, Shirdi Sai Bhajans,Hanuman Chalisa, Naivedya, Dhoop Arathi and distribution of prasad. VENUE: Fair Oaks Park Building, 540 N. Fair Oaks Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94087 (Located close to the intersection of Wolfe and Fair Oaks Avenue). For more information write to saibandhu@yahoo.com.

Shree Rama Navami Celebrations in Sydney, Australia
Shree Shirdi Sai Sansthan Sydney invites you all with family and friends to join Shree Rama Navami Celebrations at Sai Mandir, 420 Liverpool Road, Strathfield South, NSW 2136 (Corner Hill Street & Liverpool Road). on April 4th, 11th and 12th. Maha Prasad will be served on all three days. Temple open all day for Darshan on 11th and 12th April. For Programme details or information on Sansthan's activities please call Info-Line 0500 524 724 or visit www.omsrisai.com.

Ramnavami Celebrations, Toronto, Canada
Shri Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan of Canada cordially invites all devotees to join us in celebrating "Shri Ram Navami Festival 2003 in Toronto on Saturday April 12th at Durga Temple, 2691 Markham Rd. Scarborough, ph: 416 754 2983 or 905 887 1752. Devotees interested in volunteering or those interested in offering bhajans to Baba pls call Shammi Chopra 905 887 1752 from 7 to 9am or after 9pm in the evening or leave a message. For the details of the program and updates please visit our Web page at http://www.geocities.com/shirdisaisansthanofcanada/. Shirdi Sai Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra, Toronto - Devotees can participate in Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra (Portrait) Yatra currently in effect in Toronto. To invite Baba to your home and for further details and directions please contact Shammi Chopra or visit Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra Link on Home Page of www.saibaba.org

Inauguration of Shirdi Sai temple at Pattipulam, Tamil Nadu, India
Shirdi Sai Trust, Chennai is establishing a new Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Mandir at Pattipulam on the outskirts of Chennai on road towards Mahabalipuram. Maha Kumbabhisekam is fixed on 3rd April 2003. Devotees are welcome to visit this temple when they visit Chennai.

Sri Shirdi Sai satsangs, Houston, Texas
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. For more information; Phone: (713) 789 7486, (832) 567 7861; Web: http://www.babamandir.org; Email: saibabahouston@yahoo.com

Shirdi Saibaba Satsang in Columbus, OH
Satsang in Columbus, OH has been taking place for the past few years. We are grateful to our Lord Sainath who has taken us to the 5th consecutive year. We always have felt him among us in our Satsang sessions making us feel blissful. Devotees around Columbus, OH area can visit: http://www.srishirdisaibabamandir.org or email: sssb_temple@yahoo.com for more details on events and join us in serving Mother Sai.

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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