Behind every prayer and parayan (reading of holy books) there lies a desire, the quest for a miracle. Nice are those experiences where the seeker gets what he desires. It is the experiences of several devotees to receive the good news, from seemingly nowhere, beyond the logic, at the end of a sincere prayer. What of those who do not see the light at the end of the tunnel? Did Sai not hear them? Are those prayers not sincere?

A prayer is always sincere. The mere thought of surrendering our ego, even for a moment, at the feet of Sadguru and invoking His grace to the betterment of our existence is a significant step. However, not being able to receive the expected or wanted may not construe as a failure.

It does help one to know why the prayers aren't answered always. Why is that Sai withholds His miracles, seemingly to a few "unfortunate" ones? A careful analysis may help our little minds to some extent. Next time, if our prayers are unanswered, let us remember those occasions carefully and move on. Let our faith be doubled and let our love to Sainath is unchanged. It will be revealed later, that the prayers that were "unanswered" were a part of a much bigger plan. It will be known that, what happened is in our best interests. It will also be known that it may not be a dealing between Sai and the self, but a part of a grander revelation. "Seek my treasure. My coffers are open", said Sai. The best miracles are the ones that are unseen.
Back to Menu

Contributed Article: Dwarakamai

Shri Sai Baba came to Shirdi with a marriage procession. He stayed at Dwarakamai until the very end of his life. The Dilapidated Masjid of Shirdi village was named "Dwarakamai" by Sai Krishna. This is the mosque where He lived His divine advent and performed Leelas. Not only He named but in practice also the doors were open too all castes and religions. Not only Humans but also animals were allowed inside. It has been a storehouse of Spiritual power by 60 long years stay of Mother Sai. Innumerable devotees got blessings of Baba here.

Before Baba's arrival in Shirdi, Dwarakamai was an old mosque in a dilapidated condition. Baba turned it into Dwarakamai and proved that God is one. It is here one can observe how a universal religion can be practiced. We see devotees of Hindu, Parsi, Christian and Muslim religions. All are allowed to worship according to their religion. Sacred Fire (Dhuni) lit by Baba is ever burning here. Baba used to give Sacred Udi to the devotees to solve their problems in life.

Baba named it Dwaraka at the time of His entrance into it, but also advised Shri.Bhuti to build a Mandir for Muralidhar. His mortal remains were preserved in the place of Lord Murlidhar. This confirms Sai is no other than Lord Krishna of Dwapara Yuga. The feeling of His physical presence persists even today most overwhelmingly. The citizens of present day, or at least devotees who believe in Shirdi Sai should try to understand, implement Sai's method of Religious Tolerance and propagate Universal brotherhood.

(Contributed by Sai Eshwari)

Contributed Poem: For you Sai, with Love

It was at a dark hour
That I asked for your help
I said that I would always believe in you
If my problem and worries fell.

Quietly into the night
I prayed for your grace
At dawn with a heavy heart
I left home with an anxious face

As the morning went on
The problem never came
With bated breath, I passed the day
But my heart felt light my mind quite calm
Adversities and tensions faded away

What weighed so heavily on my mind and heart
Seem to have disappeared like a puff of smoke
And what would have been misery and pain
Became for me a victorious gain

I asked for your help in my hour of need
And you were there for me with awesome speed
Everytime since then whenever I've strayed
You've guided me back and showed me the way

I've come a long way sai Baba
But I have found my bolster
A strong, study, dependable, loving compassionate bolster

You've made me change so much
You've put my life on the path to salvation
Your voice is always loud and clear
I never fear for you are always near

You are my everything
My sleeping, breathing, waking being
You bring comfort and joy to my life everyday
Firmly at your holy feet I will stay

Bless us all sai Baba with your grace
Bow to Sri Sai peace be to all

(Contributed by Havovi Medora)
Back to Menu

Experiences of Devotees

Madhurima
I got an experience day before yesterday inn the middle of m Satcharitha Parayan on Monday. I was in deep sleep and somebody was awakening me. I couldn't get up and I thought it was my family members making me awake, as they usually do. Then suddenly I heard words that in Telugu, DON'T FEAR, DON'T CRY, DON'T FEEL SAD. I AM WITH YOU IF ANY DAY YOU FEEL THESE ALL, THAT IS THE DAY YOU FORGOT me. These words are from my Sai, I always thought him as my dad and mom, I never ask for any thing my parents, I ask everything and got whatever I asked only by sai, from the time I know about him. His presence in my life changed a lot. The words in my sleep, has to be remembered forever. Most of us fear, cry, feel sad. My god made me stop all that at my young age, how lucky I am..........I am crying continually in my deep heart, sai, how affectionate and caring on me, I love sai, words can't stop writing about my feeling to my mother sai amma. Definitely he will take care of everyone he will start problem, made us feel, get hate of that by some incident, and make all of realize, that his style, and FINALLY make us importance of life at any stage, young or old age. More than all, chanting his name with love makes happy our life.
Back to Menu

Devotees say...

Pradip Koirala
Bhav -Pooja, chapter 26 of Sai Satcharitra explains the new system of worship to Baba. Hemadpanth says use tears of pleasure to bath Babas lotus feet. Use truth as chandan at Babas lotus feet.wear Baba with clothes of unflinching faith. Give him fruits of soft and concentrated mind as Naivaidya.Put the feeling of purity in his forehead and wearing kachani in the forehead bow down to his feet. Embeleshing sai with these ornaments , renounce everything for him. use purity of your feeling towards Sai as fan to remove the perversion of the mind. Doing pleasing pooja this way , pray Baba in the following way : Oh God Sai | Give us the tendency to introspect. Give us the capacity to discriminate between truth and untruth. Removing all our attachment to worldly matters, give us the feeling that we are Soul. We renounce our body and prana at your lotus feet. Oh God Sai | Make our eyes your eyes so that we may not experience any pains or pleasure. Oh God sai| Make my body and mind work under your instruction and provide a unending rest to my restless mind in the shadow of your lotus feet.

Lakshmi
Dear Sai devotees, recently I came to know about Sai Kasta Nivarana Mantram, it is a magic mantra that does away with difficulties and resolves all your problems. I am very happy to share with you all. Please spread across and get blessings of Shri Saibaba. If there are any mistakes, please excuse me.

Kashton ki kali chahe dukhdaai hai, Jeevan mein ghor uudaasi hai!
Sankat ko talo Sai dua hai, Tere siva koyi shahahi hai!
Mere maan tera murth samahi hai, Har phal har kshan mahima gayi hai!
Ghar mere kaston ki andi aayi hai, Apna koyn mera sudh bulayi hai!

Tum Bolanath ho daya nidin ho, Tum Hanuman ho tum maha balwan ho!
Tum hi Ram ho tum hi Shyam ho, Sare gath ma tum sabh se mahan ho!
Tum Mahakali tumhi Mahasharda, Kartha hu pradan bhavsa tar da!
Tum hi Mohamad ho tum hi Navaz ho, Nanak ki vani ma esak sath ho!

Tum hi Digambar tum hi Kabir ho, Ho Buddha tumhi aur mahavir ho!
Sara jagath ka tumhi adhar ho, Nikar bhi aur sakar ho!
Karthaa hu vandan prem vishwas se, Suno sai allah ka vastha!
Aduram ya meri nahi muskan hai, Ghar mera bhanane laga shamshan hai!

Rahm nazar karo ujada veran sa, Jindagi savarana ek vardan sa!
Pampo ki dhoop se tan lagga haarna, Apka ya das lagaa purana!
Apne sadha hi laaj bachayi hai, Deir na ho jaaye maan me shanka hai!
Deera deera deeraj hi kaatha hai, Manma bas vishwas hi rotha hai!

Mera kalpana sakaar karo do, Suni jindagi ma rang bhardho!
Dotha dotha pappoka bhar jindagi sa, Me harjaya jindagi sa!
Nath avagunaksha abtho bhisaro, Kashtoki laharo sa aake ubharo!
Kartha hu paap me papoki khan hu, Ghyan tum ghyaneshewar, me agyan hu!

Kartha hu pag-pag par pappoki bhul ma, Thar do jeevan ya charnoki dul sa!
Tumne Ujada huva ghar basaya, Pani se Deepak bhi tumina jalaya! Kasht pap shrap utaro, Prem daya drusti se niharo!
Back to Menu

Prayer Club

Sai devotee
Sadguru Saibaba today being Thursday the 25 March, I had been to see the doc and I am asked to go through one surgery. Kindly be with me and cure my ailment fully Saibaba. Shower your grace and blessings. This surgery is also being done on a Thursday just having courage thinking of you Saibaba. Please Baba help me to over come my problems and give a normal and a very healthy life.

Romi
This is just to confirm a miracle that BABA did. He saved our business from going bust. He saved our family from splitting up. He saved my father's life. This is just to let you know the glory of BABA. We hope HE keeps our family at his feet always. At Aarti time please keeps us in your prayers.

Sujatha
Dear Baba, my life has become miserable in office , so please get me a good time so that I shall be happy and keep my family happy.

Shiban
Jai sai Ram, I and my family members are devotee if Sai ram. we are praying regularly for his blessings. My daughter was keeping fast on every Thursday since 1997, till 2003 Oct.when she fell ill and could not continue the fast but is praying regularly to Baba . Sai ram she was married in Oct 2001 till date she has no issue/child and is distrubed and under great tension, Sai ram we have every faith on you and she needs your blessings please bless her with child. Please accept our request . Due to this I am also under tremendous tension and became patient of blood pressure. Baba every time you have helpled us to overcome all miseries , Baba you know everything about my family. Once again I request you to please bless a child to my daughter, I can no longer see my daugher weeping, please take care of her.

Mahesh Kumar
Om Sai ram, Sai please clear out of our problems as soon as possible. Sai nobody is there for us expect you. Sai please arrange my sister marriage and provide a permanent job to my elder brother. Sai keep an eye on my younger brother's shop. Sai I put burden of my sister marriage on you. Sab ka malik ek hai.

Puneet
Baba, now days I am performing Sai Satcharitra weekly prayer, You know very well why? I am satisfied with what I have, I have only one problem, please solve it. Please help me in this case, change my behavior, I know it is very good, has great faith on you but because of my behavior every body is tensed in my family. Please come in my dream and tell to change myself. We want to give all happiness to my family, help us.

Ananthashayanam
Baba please give good health to my sister's daughter-in-law who is suffering from arthritis and she is bedridden. Baba please save her and she is having two small kids. I request all the Sai devotees to pray for her health. Baba, my brother-in-law is having some problems in his family. Baba, my brother-in-law's wife is not treating him properly and Baba, they are not giving him food for the last one week. Baba, please give my brother-in-law's family good behavior. Baba, please give permission to come to Shirdi. Baba, please give good health to my sister, my son and to the members of my family. Baba, please give good behavior and good knowledge to my son. Baba, please solve my financial problems. Baba, still I am unable to pay some of the loans. Baba, with your help only I can solve my financial problems. Baba, I am always at your Lotus feet. Om Sai Sri Sai Jay Jay Sai.
Back to Menu

Quotation of the Week
"Whoever makes me the sole object of their love, merges in me like a river in the ocean".-Saibaba of Shirdi
Back to Menu

Question of the Week

Q. "Describe in detail Baba's Handi and express your thoughts about it." A. by Madhava Turumella

Baba is the personification of what we call the "Annadata", the Donar of food. Our Upanishads very openly instruct that you should recognize the importance of food. Tittiriyopanishad says: "Annam na nimdyaat - tad vratam". Do not refuse food or look down upon it, it is a vow (vratam). This is the same Upanishad which contains the famous saying "matru devobhava, pitru devobhava, acaraya devo bhava" - Mother is GOD, father is GOD and Teacher is GOD. Annam bahu kurveeta - food can do a lot of things. Annaadvai prajah prajaayamte - due to food the progeny is taking place. Annadvai praanah - due to food the vital functions remain. BABA knows what our Upanishads are saying. Because He is the personification of the divine and He lived what is told in the Upanishads. He asked His devotees not to fast. He rather dissuaded His devotees from fasting.

An example for this is available in Chapter XVIII and XIX wherein an old woman Mrs. Radhabai Deshmukh, thought of fasting unto death. She thought of fasting until Sai comes down and gives her a mantra. BABA was very compassionate to such ardent devotees. He could have ignored her, or scolded her - like sometimes He does with others - instead He called her very assertively and told her "my own teacher never gave me a mantra - why do you expect me to give you any mantra! You are like my mother - listen to me - do not stop eating food".

Another example is also available in Chapter XXXII wherein Mrs. Gokhale comes to Shirdi with a determination to sit at Baba's feet and observe a three days fast. However, Baba said to her, "Where is the necessity of fasting Go to Dadabhat's house, prepare the dish of Puran Polis, feed his children and yourself too".

BABA never cooked for himself but when it came to feeding others, he was very particular. For Himself, He was a shameless beggar, but when it came to feed others, He was a master of home. He used to go and buy food all by Himself. He made sure all spices are properly put in the food. He was having two utensils (Handis) one for 50 people and the other was for 100.

When we contemplate on BABA and look at his Handi, at the Upanishad, at that mother devotee who took a vow of fasting, at BABA's gesture and instruction towards that devotee - there is a great lesson to learn. We are like that devotee. We take a vow thinking that BABA will be pleased with that - but we refuse to recognize the subtle part of BABA. That He is ever ready to give. Do we know what exactly we want? But, He knows what we want. All that we want is a peaceful meal provided by GOD, which is not earned by cheating, stealing from others. A meal, which is not gained out of unlawful means, preferably a meal which He Himself, provides. Let us remember Baba's statement: "--- when my GOD is there I get my meal even when I am sitting on my cot". We abide to His instruction - by looking at His Handi, His kind gesture of offering food. We learn a lesson that GOD almighty is ever serving what we want - the basic necessities, but we ignore what He is serving - that which we really need - and we crave for that which He is not giving. We think we are justified in asking, but we should be clear on what we are asking. BABA always advised - I am ready to give, but ask properly.
Back to Menu

Sai Activities

Sri Rama Navami Celebations, Toronto, Canada
SHIRDI SAI BABA SANSTHAN OF CANADA, requests your benign presence on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami Celebrations on April 3 2004 and our weekly Thursday Prayers to receive Baba's blessings. For more Details please send us an email: saileela99@yahoo.com or call us at 905 887 1752

Sri Ramanavami/Urs Celebrations, Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Minnesota
Shirdi Saibaba Prayer center, Minnesota invites Sai devotees to participate in the Sri Ramanavami/Urs celebrations on Saturday, April 3, 2004 at Geeta Ashram, Brooklyn Park, MN. The event includes, Sai aarthis, Devotees' experiences, Bhajans, Kirtans, Chandan Utsav and Palki Procession. Please write to hamaresai@yahoo.com. Regular Sai activities in the Twin Cities, MN are being conducted at Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, 725 Lake St NE, Apt #139 Hopkins MN. For details, please visit www.hamaresai.org or write to hamaresai@yahoo.com. Or call Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center at 952-938-2983.

Shri Ramnavami Festival 2004 at Shri Saibaba Sansthan, Shirdi
Please visit the following link to know more about Shirdi Sai Sansthan's Ramanavami festival celebrations: http://www.shrisaibabasansthan.org/shirdi/ustav04/ramnavmi2004.asp

Akhanda Sainama Japam, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
Akhanda Sainaama Japam will be conducted from 01-04-2004 (Thursday) 12-noon to 04-04-2004 (Sunday) 12 noon (72 Hours) at SRI KUMARAN MAHAL, Alamelumagapuram, Vellore 632009 , Vellore District, Tamil Nadu. Devotees are requested to participate in sacred Japam and obtain the blessings of our samartha Sadguru Saibaba of Shirdi.

Shirdi Sai- Ramanavami celebrations in Bay area, CA
We welcome all of you with family, to join us for Shirdi Sai- Ramanavami celebrations in the Bay area, CA on april 3rd (saturday) in Sunnyvale between 4:00 p.m. To 8:00 p.m. Venue: Las Palmas park building, 850 Russet Drive, Sunnyvale, CA (located off of Remington Dr. and Spinosa Dr.) For rsvp and info: saibandhu@yahoo.com / 408-747-1305
Back to Menu

You may subscribe to receive the newsletter by e-mail.

Fill out your e-mail address and hit the subscribe button: