Gita Jayanti

THE GITA Jayanthi or the birthday of the Bhagavad-Gita is celebrated throughout India by all admirers and lovers of this sacred scripture on the 11th day (Ekadashi) of the bright half of the month of Margaseersha (December-January) according to the Hindu almanac. That was the day on which Sanjaya narrated the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, to King Dhritarashtra, and thus made the glorious teachings of the Lord available to us, to all the people of the world, and for all time.

The Gita Jayanthi marks one of the greatest days in the history of mankind. Nearly six thousand years ago on that day a dazzling flash of brilliant lightning lit up the firmament of human civilization. That spiritual effulgence, that flash, was the message of the Bhagavad Gita, given by the Lord Himself on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Unlike ordinary dashes of lightning which die away after dashing for 'a split-second, this brilliant dash of that memorable day continued to shine through the centuries and even now illumines the path of humanity on its onward march to perfection.

The Gita is the most beautiful and only truly philosophical song. It contains sublime lessons on wisdom and philosophy. It is the "Song Celestial'. It is the universal gospel. It contains the message of life that appeals to all, irrespective of race, creed, age or religion.

The Gita was given to us about six thousand years ago through Arjuna, an Indian prince, by Sri Krishna, the Lord incarnate. The teachings are based on the Upanishads, the ancient, revealed metaphysical classics of India. The Gita shows a way to rise above the world of duality and the pairs of opposites and to attain eternal bliss and immortality. It is a gospel of action. It teaches the rigid performance of one's duty in society, the life of active struggle, keeping one's inner being untouched by outer surroundings and renouncing all fruits of actions as offerings unto the Lord.

The Gita is a source of power and wisdom. It strengthens you when you are weak and inspires you when you are feeble. It teaches you to embrace righteousness and resist unrighteousness.

The Gita is not merely a book; it is not a mere scripture. It is a living voice carrying an eternally vital and indispensable message to mankind. Its verses embody words of wisdom, coming from the infinite ocean of knowledge, the Absolute Itself.

The voice of the Gita is the call of the Supreme. It is the divine sound explained. The mightiest primal source of all existence, all power, is the manifested sound, Om. This is the divine Word. It is the Nada Brahman whose unceasing can is: "Be ye all ever merged in the eternal unbroken continuous consciousness of the Supreme Truth". This is the sublime message that the great Gita elaborates and presents in all comprehensiveness and in a universally accepted form. It is verily this message of the Bhagavad Gita that I wish to recall and reproclaim with emphasis to you.

To be always conscious of the Divine, to ever feel the Divine presence, to live always in the awareness of the Supreme Being in the chambers of your heart and everywhere around you, is verily to live a life of fullness and divine perfection on earth itself Such constant remembrance of God and such attitude of mind will release you forever from the clutches of Maya and free you from all fear To forget the Supreme is to fall into Maya. To forget Him is to be assailed by fear To live in unbroken remembrance of the Supreme Truth is to remain always in the region of Light, far beyond Maya's reach.

Mark carefully how the Gita again and again stresses upon this lofty message. The Lord declares : "Keep thou thy mind in Me, in Me place thy reason".

In another verse, He says "Therefore, at all times remember Me and fight You will surely attain Me, thus having offered yourself'.

And yet again: "perform action remaining united with Me at heart".

Vaikunta Ekadesi

Ekadasi means 'the eleventh' in Sanskrit and refers to the eleventh day of a fortnight belonging to a lunar month. Falling in the moon's waxing phase in the month of Dhanurmasa (December-January), Ekadasi is synonymous with fasting and abstinence. The Dhanurmasa sukla paksha ekadasi is called Vaikunta Ekadasi.

However, the austerity is associated with much deeper aspects. This is explained in the Padma Puranam (the second amongst the eighteen puranas), which tells us about the beginnings of Ekadasi with this legend. During the Krita Yuga, also termed the golden age, an asura called Muran harassed both devas and mortals. Unable to bear his tyranny, the devas sought refuge in Shiva. He directed them to approach Vishnu. Vishnu agreed to help the devas and went out to battle with Muran. During the long battle, which lasted one thousand celestial years, Vishnu needed to rest for a while. He entered a beautiful cave called Himavati in Badarikashrama to sleep. Muran wanted to strike Vishnu while he was sleeping. However, Shakti - Vishnu's female energy - emerged out of his body and assumed the form of a beautiful damsel who fought Muran and vanquished him. When Vishnu awoke he was very pleased and named this maiden as Ekadasi and granted her a boon. The maiden said, "O Lord, if You are pleased with me and wish to give me a boon, then give me the power to deliver people from the greatest sins if they fast of this day". Vishnu granted her the boon and declared that people worshipping her would reach Vaikunta. Thus, it is said, was born the first ekadasi, which was a Dhanurmasa sukla paksha ekadasi. Sages and devout people have been since, observing the ekadasi vrata regularly. Here, the demon Muran represents the tamasic and rajasic qualities in us. The import of the ekadasi vrata is that one can conquer rajasic and tamasic tendencies in us through fasting. This helps us reach our ultimate destination, Vaikuntha, which is the place or stage of no 'kuntitha' or dullness, stupidity and misery.

It is also said that on this day the ksheerasagara manthana (churning of the ocean) took place and the nectar of immortality (amritha) was distributed to the gods. This divine event is interpreted in the following manner. The ocean of milk is the human heart filled with satvic tendencies (kindness, purity and goodness). However, in all of us there exist both types of inclinations, good (devas) and bad (asuras). Only Sadhana or the churning process will throw out the poison in us and we can procure the sweet nectar, which will liberate us from the cycle of birth and death. Shaivaites call this day as Nanjunda Ekadasi, as it was on this day Shiva consumed nanju, the poison that emanated from the churning of the ocean. Some schools of thought believe that Sri Krishna gave the Gitopadesam to Arjuna on the day of Vaikunta Ekadasi. For the Vaishnavas, it is a very holy day and should be ideally spent in fasting, prayer and meditation. Devotees look upon this austerity as a means to succeed in their spiritual endeavours. To them it is an activity which will increase their sankalpa (that which is beneficial to them), so as to avoid activities which are not beneficial to them (vikalpa). Such austerities make a student of spirituality enthusiastic, positive, serene and determined. They finally lead to the understanding that all activities must be only performed for the pleasure of the Lord. Austerity is indeed one of the four legs supporting religion, the other three being purity, mercy and truthfulness.

In his Gitopadesam to Arjuna, Sri Krishna describes the threefold path of austerity and says "deva -dvija-guru-praajna-pujanam-shauchanam-arvajanam-brahmacharyam-ahimsaa-cha-shariram-tapuchyate", which means one must worship the Supreme Lord, the Brahmans, the spiritual master, and superiors like the father and mother. Cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy and nonviolence are also austerities of the body (Bhagvada Geeta 17.14). Truthful speech, which is not offensive to others and the regular recitation of scriptures, is austerity of speech (17.15). Serenity of thought, compassion, gravity, self-control, purity of purpose, are all austerity of the mind (17.16). This threefold path of austerity, practiced by men whose aim is not to benefit materially but to please the Supreme, leads to a nature of goodness. Sri Krishna finally says that penances and austerities which are performed foolishly, by means of obstinate self-torture, or by destroying or injuring others, are the approach of the ignorant. It is also recommended that one must not perform austerities beyond his capabilities, lest the austerities become mechanical or offensive.

The Padma Purana says: "ekadasi vrata samam vrata nasti jagattraye anicchaya'pi yat krtva gatir evam vidha'vayoh ekadasi vratam ye tu bhakti bhavena kurvate na jane kim bhavet tesam vasudeva anukampaya" , which translates as: In the three worlds, there is no kind of fasting which is even comparable to the Ekadasi fast. Even if one performs this fast without a proper attitude, he achieves the Supreme Abode. If one fasts on Ekadasi day, with full devotion, what happens to him by the mercy of the Supreme Lord, I cannot say (the merit he achieves cannot be described).

While Vaikunta Ekadasi is observed in all Vaishnava temples, the day is very special at the Sri Ranganatha temple at Srirangam in Tamil Nadu. On this auspicious day, Lord Ranganatha in all His glory and resplendence enters the Parama Padha Vaasal (the gateway to salvation) at the sacred precincts of the temple at Srirangam, and showers His blessings and grace on mankind.

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Hindu Puja

Now-a-days, society is so busy, people are not finding time even to think about God. If they can allot a few minutes every day for strengthening their relationship with God, they can achieve prosperity in all walks of life. Puja(worship) helps for this purpose. We are presenting here 12-steps of vedic Puja, which is a condensed version that every one can perform by spending 30 to 45 minutes of time, every day. The following are the steps:

1. Prepartion for Worship - 1 min
2. Offering of lights - 1 min
3. Prayers to Divine guide(Guru) - 1 min
4. Water sipping(Aachamana) - 2 min
5. Prayers to god Ganesh - 2 min
6. Declaration of Intent(Sankalpa) - 1 min
7. Gayatri Mantra - 15 min
8. Worshipping the deity - 15 min
9. Sipping the holy water - 2 min
10. Offering food(Naivedyam) - 1 min
11. Lighting camphor(Haarathi) - 1 min
12. Circumambulation(Pradakshinaas) - 2 min
The best time to start Puja is at morning 6.00 o' clock. If this is not possible, then we can do it at evening 6.00 o' clock. Puja should be performed with a quiet and peaceful mind, after taking bath.

Articles needed:

Photo or idol of deity, a tumbler of water and two plates, two oil lamps, flowers / akshitaas(uncooked rice mixed with wet turmeric), fruit / sweet / jaggery / sugar / milk and camphor, Kumkum(vermilion) / Vibhooti (white powder made from cow dung).

Prepartion for Worship:

Sit on a wooden plank facing East or North. Take another wooden plank and spread a silk cloth on it. Now place the deity's photo or idol on the silk cloth, opposite to you. Wear kumkum or Vibhooti between your eye brows.

Offering of lights:

Lit up two oil lamps before the deity. Use gingelly oil or ghee as the fuel in the lamps.

Prayers to Divine Guide(Guru):

If you have a Guru, you are fortunate. Otherwise, consider your favourite deity as your Guru. Get your Guru into your mind, fold your hands at chest, and recite this:

Om Gururbrahmaa Gururvishnuhu Gururdevo maheswaraha

Gurussaakshaat Parabrahmaa Tasmai Sree gurave namaha

Now, imagine lord Vishnu(See him at right) in to your mind, and offer your prayers to him to remove any obstacles:

Om Suklaambaradharam vishnum sasivarnam chaturbhujam

Prasanna vadanam dhayayet sarva vighnopasaantaye

Water sipping(Aachamana):

The following 24 names of god Vishnu should be uttered for receiving protective energies:

Om Kesavaaya swaaha

- Recite this once, pour water into your right hand and sip it.

Om Naaraayanaaya swaaha

- Recite this, sip water as above.

Om Maadhavaaya swaaha

- Recite this, sip water as above.

Then pour some more water and drop it on the floor at your left side. Now fold hands in reverence, and recite the following names:

Om Govindaaya namaha

Om Vishnave namaha

Om Madhusoodanaaya namaha

Om Trivikramaaya namaha

Om Vaamanaaya namaha

Om Sreedharaaya namaha

Om Hrusheekesaaya namaha

Om Padmanaabhaaya namaha

Om Daamodaraaya namaha

Om Samkarshanaaya namaha

Om Vaasudevaaya namaha

Om Pradyumnaaya namaha

Om Anirudhaaya namaha

Om Purushottamaaya namaha

Om Adhokshajaaya namaha

Om Naarasimhaaya namaha

Om Atchyutaaya namaha

Om Janaardhanaaya namaha

Om Vupendraaya namaha

Om Haraye namaha

Om Sree krishaaya namaha

Prayers to God Ganesh:

Since Ganesh is the dispeller of obstacles, he should be worshipped first before starting any thing. Imagine Ganesh's form in your mind(see him at right), and recite the following 17 holy names of Ganesh by folding your hands at chest:

Om Sumukhaaya namaha

Om Yekadanthaaya namaha

Om Kapilaaya namaha

Om Gajakarnikaaya namaha

Om Lambodaraaya namaha

Om Vikataaya namaha

Om Vighnaraajaaya namaha

Om Ganaadhipaaya namaha

Om Dhoomakethave namaha

Om Ganaadhyakshaaya namaha

Om Phaalachandraaya namaha

Om Gajaananaaya namaha

Om Vakratundaaya namaha

Om Soorpakarnaaya namaha

Om Herambaaya namaha

Om Skandhapoorvajaaya namaha

Om Sree Maha Ganaadhipataye namaha

Declaration of Intent(Sankalpa):

While performing this puja, mention your wish to be fulfilled. This is called sankalpa. Recite like this: I,___________ (tell your name), offering my prayers to god / goddess ___________(tell your deity's name) on this day for achieving all the four: dharma(righteousness), artha(money), kaama(ambition), moksha(liberty) and for alleviating all problems from my life. I wish the complete grace and protection of god / goddess _____________(tell your deity's name) to fall on me and my family members always.

Gayatri Mantra:

If you have taken already Gayatri mantra from a Guru, you should recite that mantra in multiples of 108. People, who did not know this mantra should skip this section.

AUM BHOOR BHUWAH SWAHA TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM

BHARGO DEVASAYA DHEEMAHIDHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODAYAT

Worshipping the deity:

Look at the photo / idol of your deity and get that picture imprinted in your mind. Close your eyes for 2 to 3 minutes and visualize the form of your god. Imagine your deity has come and sat before you. This is called 'dhyaanam(meditation)'.

Now recite the 108 or 1008 holy names of your deity. People who got mantra of the deity from a Guru should recite it in multiples of 108. While reciting the names or mantra, throw flowers on your deity. If flowers are not available, then throw akshitaas on your god.

If you are using an idol for worship, you can pour milk, fruit juices, honey, ghee, co-conut water etc., on the idol and finally clean the idol with water. This should be done simultaneously with mantra recitation. Then adorn the idol with flowers.

Sipping the holy water:

At the end of reciting holy names or mantra, take water in to your right hand and leave it into a plate saying:

Yetatphalam Sree______ (tell your deity's name) devataarpanamastu

The water thus obtained is energized with divine vibrations. You should take this water from the plate into your right hand and tell this:

Om akaala mrutyu haranam sarva vyaadhi nivaaranam

Mahaa paapa kshayakaram Sree ____ (tell your deity's name)

devata paadodakam paavanam subham

Saying this, sip the water slowly.

Offering food(Naivedyam):

Any fruit / sweet / jaggery / sugar / milk can be offered as food for your deity. Put them in a plate before the photo or idol and split some water droplets on it, saying:

Om Sree ___________(tell your deity's name) devataaya namaha

Naivedyam samarpayaami

Note:

Later, this offering should be consumed by you and your family members and it can also be distributed to others.

Lighting Camphor(Haarathi):

Now lit up the camphor in a small plate, and move the plate around the photo / idol in a verticle circular form. Do this three times from left to right.

Circumambulation(Pradakshinaas):

Stand up and rotate your body from left to right. While doing this, fold your hands at chest and close your eyes. Do three complete rotations. Then kneel down before god and fold your hands, close your eyes and ask your deity to fulfill your wishes.

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Reading of Sri Bhagawat Geeta

An old Farmer lived on a farm in the mountains with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Bhagawat Geeta. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could.

One day the grandson asked, "Grandpa! I try to read the Bhagawat Geeta just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bhagawat Geeta do?"

The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water."

The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You'll have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.

This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You're just not trying hard enough," and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.

At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house.

The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, "See Grandpa, it's useless!" >

"So you think it is useless?" The old man said, "Look at the basket."

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.

"Son, that's what happens when you read the Bhagawat Geeta. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Krishna in our lives."

"Celebrate Life. Care for others and share whatever you have with those less fortunate than you. Broaden your vision, for the whole world belongs to you." - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

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A Quotation by Dr.Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

"Religion is a transforming experience. It is not a theory of God. It is spiritual consciousness. Belief and conduct, rites and ceremonies, dogmas and authorities are subordinate to the art of self-discovery and contact with the Divine. When the individual withdraws his soul from all outward events, gathers himself together inwardly, strives with concentration, there breaks upon him an experience, sacred, strange, wondrous, which quickens within him, lays hold of him, becomes his very being. Even those who are the children of science and reason, must submit to the fact of spiritual experience which is primary and positive. We may dispute theologies but we cannot deny facts. The fire of life in its visible burnings compels assent, though not the fumbling speculations of smokers sitting around the fire. While realisation is a fact, the theory of reality is an inference. There is a difference between contact with reality and opinion about it, between the mystery of godliness and belief in God."

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Spiritual Technique For Mind Repair - Vipassana

Some of us believe that happiness is subjective. Others, however, point out that its objective roots are beyond debate. Maintaining balance of mind despite the bumps on the road of daily life means overcoming being miserable. Even a moment's perfect equanimity is actual happiness, peace of mind, or whatever one labels optimum mental functioning. Such a temperament does not come ready made. For most of us, attaining a state of level headedness requires hard work and training. Occasional unhappiness is an inevitable part of life. So too is disease, bad health and accidents. But we don"t shrug it off saying that it's just part of life and refuse medical help.
So why should we ignore mental short circuits, ranging from mood swings and bad temper to depression and insecurity?

A practical-minded person cares as much for repairing the mind as to healing bodily malfunctions.

Mind repair is simply spirituality at its core practical level. We optimise mind machinery for a better life, for ourselves and for those around us. We need a powerful mind tool, and Vipassana is an ancient mind-enhancing technology. In Pali, Vipassana means 'insight to see things as they really are". Vipassana is a self-observation technique taught by Gautama the Buddha. "Its origins were already lost in timeless antiquity", he had said. He rediscovered it in his prolonged search for a fundamental antidote to human misery.

The Sakya crown prince who had already mastered every prevalent teaching in India of those times, realised that nothing, including systems of the famous Alara and Ramputta, touched deep-rooted impurities entrenched in his mind. Observing bodily sensations, he realised, led to hidden depths of the mind where our habit patterns are formed and multiplied. At the deepest level, our mind is constantly in touch with any feeling in the body like pain, heat, cold, perspiration and pressure. At the subtler subatomic level of the body, these sensations are felt as a biochemical flow of particles arising and passing away with tremendous velocity. Any pleasant feeling in the body, and the mind reacts with clinging. Unpleasant feelings are instantly greeted with aversion. The reactions go on every moment of our life, unnoticed. It seems that we are reacting to the external world. But in reality we constantly react with like or dislike to a biochemical flow within caused by our sense organs in contact with external stimuli.

This blind reaction pattern forms the root cause of our mind's malfunctioning, the Buddha realised. So instead of neither reacting nor suppressing reality within, he gave humanity the Middle Path of merely observing reality as it is. This technique of objective observation of mind matter interaction at the level of sensation without blind reaction is Vipassana . This practical, universal technique represents the quintessence of the Buddha's actual scientific teaching. It was lost to India and the world 500 years after the Buddha's passing away. Fortunately, a little known chain of teachers in neighbouring Burma (Myanmar) preserved it in its pristine purity.

Every Vipassana student independently performs self-surgery of the mind. A teacher guides and makes clarifications. But the student works very hard nearly 13 hours each day of the meditation course. Alone, sometimes in a meditation cell, he or she braves inner demons and fights pain barriers. Confronting reality within needs courage. It often shatters carefully polished self-images.

"You are your own master", Sayagyi Goenka, a Vipassana teacher, tells his students. "The cause of your happiness or misery is within you". This emotional self-dependence helps accept accountability for one's condition in life. A Vipassana practitioner realises everything in the world changes constantly, including people and situations. Our full enjoyment of life is not dependent on any particular circumstance. Happiness means a balanced mind to face the reality of the moment. Only then can the mind calmly and dispassionately unleash its awesome power to solving our problems. Life turns from negative reactions to beneficial positive action.

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Inspiring Thoughts by Swami Sivananda

To practice non-violence, truth and purity is Divine Life.
To be kind, generous, humble, tolerant is Divine Life.
To practice virtues and be righteous is Divine Life.
To serve the poor in selfless, dedicated ways is Divine Life.
To serve the sick with all-is-God attitude is Divine Life.
To be merciful, courageous and devotional is Divine Life.
To sing the Name of God and pray is Divine Life.
To do Japa and meditation is Divine Life.
To be an instrument in the hands of God is Divine Life.
To act rightly and live in God is Divine Life.
To do unconditional self-surrender to God is Divine Life.
To restrain the senses and to have God-communion is Divine Life.
To be one with the Divine Will is Divine Life.
To be a silent witness of the three states (waking, dreaming and deep sleep) is Divine Life.

The Story of Bharata

Vishwamitra was one of the important sages of India in ancient times. Incidentally, he was born a king and due to penances he acquired the status of a Brahmin. To please the Gods, he once retired to the forest and lived the life of a recluse for years together. As the years passed in meditation and penance (Tapascharya), so powerful became his meditation that the Gods felt their position becoming insecure. To guard their interests, the Gods decided to make Vishwamitra give up his meditation. Towards this end they employed the services of the celestial nymph Menaka and asked her to go and use her charms to make give up his meditation.

With this malicious intent Menaka came down to Vishwamitra'a abode and exercised her charms for enchanting the meditating Vishwamitra. Oblivious of her intent, the unsuspecting Vishwamitra, human that he was, he gave in, to the damsels distracting advances. Once she had tripped Vishwamitra by capturing his coveted attention Menaka successfully proceeded to dismantle his shield against wordly passions, and finally sealed the fate of the unfortunate Vishwamitra's meditation, when by Vishwamitra she conceived a child. Realising that his meditation had gone to pieces, Viswamitra was furious, but the irreparable damage had been done. Menaka gave birth to a chubby girl whom she named Shakuntala.

Having completed her deed , Menaka returned to the abode of the Gods, but she had to / leave her child Shakuntala behind and as Vishwamitra disowned the child and went back to his soul searching meditation, Menaka decided to leave her child at an ashrama (traditional Hindu monastery for imparting education). At the ashrama Shakuntala grew up to become a lovely maiden and lived a happy life among friends, flowers and her pet deer and rabbits. One day it so happened that Dushyanta the king of that country had come to the forest on a hunt. Pursuing a wild boar he ran into the ashrama where Shakuntala lived and his eyes fell on a handsome fully grown male deer whom he immediately made a target of his arrow. As the deer fell crying out in agony, Shakuntala rushed out and was shocked to find her, favourite pet in pain. She hurriedly removed the arrow and tried to comfort the hurt deer. This moving sight of a maiden's affection for her pet touched Dushyanta's tender feelings and coming before Shakuntala he prayed for being pardoned.

Magnanimously, Shakuntala pardoned him on condition that he stay in the ashrama for a few days and tend the deer whom he had wounded, to which readily agreed. In the serene environment of the ashrama, Dushyanta's affection for Shakuntala grew into romance and finally he asked for her hand in marriage. With the consent of the elders, their nuptials were duly solemnized. After a few days Dushyanta received news that all was not well in his capital and he had to perforce return, promising to come back after a few days and take Shakuntala with him. Before taking her leave Dushyanta gave Shakuntala his ring as a remembrance. In anticipation of the happy day when her beloved would return to reclaim her, Shakuntala spent her days dreaming about him.

During one such moods when she was oblivious of the happenings around her, a famous but short tempered sage visited the ashrama and saw Shakuntala sitting at the doorstep. The sage stood before her for sometime but she failed to become aware of his presence. Angered by this breach of hospitality, he cursed her that the person whom she was thinking about would forget her, so saying the sage turned to leave. But fortunately one of Shakuntala's friends heard the sage's curse and explained to him the reason for her behaviour. Mollified by the explanation the sage added that in spite of the curse Shakuntali's beloved would recognise her if she showed him any article which the said person had given her.

Shakuntala's days passed in dreaming about her beloved. During those days she realised to her joy that she had conceived Dushyanta's child. Days turned to weeks and weeks to months but the much awaited visit from Dustyanta did not materialise. Her patience at the end of its tether, Shakuntala decided to wait no longer and to go to Dushyanta. Along with her foster father, teacher and some of her mates she set out to Dushyanta's palace. On the way the entourage had to cross a river which they did by hiring a canoe. Thrilled by the pristine emerald blue waters, Shakuntala could not resist waiding her fingers through them. Unknowingly the ring given to her by Dushyanta slipped off into the river and lost in her bliss Shakuntala proceeded to the palace. At the palace, Dushyanta failed to recognise Shakuntala, as a result of the curse. Shocked at Dushyanta's unexpected behaviour, Shakuntala was dumbfounded.

After fruitlessly trying to persuade Dushyanta, the disgraced Shakuntala left the palace. Out of shame she decided to live alone in an isolated place where she gave birth to a chubby boy whom she named Bharata.

The boy grew up with his mother and was extremely fearless. In his isolated home his only playmates were the lion and tiger cubs who moved about in the forest. This brave boy Bharata cultivated the hobby of opening the mouths of the cubs and counting their teeth. Meanwhile in Dushyanta's palace a fisherman came carrying the ring which was given to Shakuntala by Dushyanta at their wedding. The fisherman had found the ring in the stomach of a large fish that he had caught and seeing the royal emblem carved on it had brought it to the palace. Seeing this ring revived Dushyanta's lost memory of Shakuntala and he rushed to the Ashrama to reclaim her.

Remorse enveloped him when he came to know that Shakuntala no longer stayed there. As providence had willed it, after a few years while on a hunt, he saw the strange sight of a boy holding open the jaws of a lion cub and trying to count its teeth. Wondering as to whose son he was, Dushyanta got down from his mount and asked the boy his name. Astonished that he was on being told by the boy that he was Bharata son of King Dushyanta the ruler of the land; Dushyanta's astonishment gave way to overwhelming pleasure when he saw Shakuntala emerging from the hut nearby. The family came together in a joyous reunion. And this brave boy grew up to be a powerful and benevolent king the memory of whose rule was immortalized by our country being known since ancient times as Bharatvarsha - named after one of its great king's Bharata.

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Obstacles in Meditation

There are several obstacles to meditation। Patanjali says: "Disease, dullness, doubt, carelessness, laziness, worldly-mindedness, illusion, missing the point, unstability - these are obstacles in Yoga." Grief, melancholy, tremor of the body, inhalation and exhalation are auxiliaries to these main obstacles. You will have to remove all these obstacles. During meditation, if you are overpowered by sleep, stand up, dash cold water on the face, practice a few Asanas and Pranayama. Sleep will go. Another age-old practice is, for those who have a 'choti' (tuft of hair), to tie the tuft to a nail of wall by means of a thread - if you doze during meditation, the nail on the wall will pull you up. Take light food at night. Abhyasa and Vairagya are the best means of avoiding obstacles. Vairagya is not running away from the world. Vairagya is a mental state. Analyze your thoughts. Scrutinize your motives. Give up the objects that your mind likes most, at least for some time. When the craving for them has vanished, then you can take them, as a master.

Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga

Patanjali's Raja Yoga is generally termed the Ashtanga Yoga or the Yoga of Eight Limbs, through the practice of which freedom is achieved. These eight limbs are:

1) Yama or Eternal Vows:

• Ahimsa (non-violence)
• Satya (truth)
• Asteya (non-stealing)
• Brahmacharya (continence) and
• Aparigraha (non-avariciousness)

2) Niyama or Observances:

• Saucha (purity)
• Santosha (contentment)
• Tapas (austerities)
• Svadhyaya (study) and
• Ishvarapranidhana (surrender to God)

3) Asana (firm, comfortable meditative posture)

4) Pranayama (the regulation of the Vital Force)

5) Pratyahara (abstraction of the senses and mind from objects)

6) Dharana (concentration)

7) Dhyana (meditation) and

8) Samadhi (superconscious state or trance)

These eight limbs have been scientifically arranged and dealt with. They are the natural steps in the ladder which takes man from his human to the real divine nature. From the gross to the subtle, all the chords that bind the Purusha to Prakriti are cut asunder. This snapping of the ties releases the Purusha to enjoy his Independence, Kaivalya Moksha.

Sacredness of Cow

The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda

Apart from the consideration of the question how far these facts claimed by religions are true, we find one characteristic common to them all. They are all abstractions as contrasted with the concrete discoveries of physics, for instance; and in all the highly organised religions they take the purest form of Unit Abstraction, either in the form of an Abstracted Presence, as an Omnipresent Being, as an Abstract Personality called God, as a Moral Law, or in the form of an Abstract Essence underlying every existence. In modern times, too, the attempts made to preach religions without appealing to the super sensuous state of mind have had to take up the old abstractions of the Ancients and give different names to them as "Moral Law", the "Ideal Unity", and so forth, thus showing that these abstractions are not in the senses। None of us have yet seen an "Ideal Human Being", and yet we are told to believe in it. None of us have yet seen an ideally perfect man, and yet without that ideal we cannot progress. Thus, this one fact stands out from all these different religions, that there is an Ideal Unit Abstraction, which is put before us, either in the form of a Person or an Impersonal Being, or a Law, or a Presence, or an Essence. We are always struggling to raise ourselves up to that ideal. Every human being, whosoever and wheresoever he may be, has an ideal of infinite power. Every human being has an ideal of infinite pleasure. Most of the works that we find around us, the activities displayed everywhere, are due to the struggle for this infinite power or this infinite pleasure. But a few quickly discover that although they are struggling for infinite power, it is not through the senses that it can be reached. They find out very soon that that infinite pleasure is not to be got through the senses, or, in other words, the senses are too limited, and the body is too limited, to express the Infinite. To manifest the Infinite through the finite is impossible, and sooner or later, man learns to give up the attempt to express the Infinite through the finite. This giving up, this renunciation of the attempt, is the background of ethics. Renunciation is the very basis upon which ethics stands. There never was an ethical code preached which had not renunciation for its basis.

Parables of Sri Ramakrishna Parama Hamsa

A group of fisher-women who were on their way home from a distant market held on an afternoon, were overtaken by a heavy hail-storm at nightfall and were compelled to take shelter in a florist's cottage nearby. Their kindly host allowed them to sleep that night in a room where he had kept some baskets of sweet-smelling flowers for supplying his customers on the morrow. The atmosphere of the room, filled with the fragrance of flowers, was too good for the fisher-women and they could not, therefore, get even a wink of sleep. At last one of them suggested a remedy. "Let us sprinkle," she said, "a little water on our empty fish-baskets and place them close to us. That would keep this troublesome smell of flowers from spoiling our sleep." Every one gladly agreed to the proposal and acted accordingly; and soon all began to snore. Such indeed is the power and influence of habit! The worldly soul brought up in and accustomed to materialistic thoughts and surroundings cannot breathe long in an atmosphere of purity and renunciation without feeling restlessness and discomfort.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba Stories and Parables

Once Jesus was walking along the streets of a city। It was a slum area. He saw a young man rolling in dirt, dead drunk. He went to him, sat by his side and woke him up. The young man opened his eyes and saw Jesus. Jesus asked him: "Son! Why are you wasting your precious youth in drinking?" The young man replied: "Master!, I was a leper. You cured me of my leprosy. What else can I do?" Jesus heaved a sigh and walked away.

In another street he saw a man madly pursuing a beautiful woman। Jesus caught hold of him and asked him: "Son! Why do you desecrate your body by indulging in such a sinful act?" The man replied: "Master! I was really blind. You gave me vision. What else can I do?"

Jesus trudged along another street। He saw an old man crying bitterly. Jesus approached him and gently touched him. The old man wiped his tears and looked at Jesus. Jesus questioned him: "Why are you weeping old man?" The old man said: "Master! I was nearly dead. You granted me life. What else can I do except weep in this old age?"In times of difficulty and distress, we cry out for God's help. But when God, out of His boundless love and compassion, responds to our prayer, we ignore Him and fall back into our self-centered life. One must guard oneself against this greatest sin of ingratitude towards God.

The Original Phtograph of Sri Shiridi SaiBaba

CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF EVENTS CONCERNING SHRI SHIRIDI SAI BABA

Note: Chronological list of events concerning Shri Shiridi SaiBaba collected from Official Website of Shri Saibaba Sansthan, Shirdi for the purpose of Sai Devotees.

1838
Hemadripant has approximately determined the date of Sai Baba's birth as A.D. 1838.

1842-54
Sai Baba spent 12 years with his Guru. The name of his Guru is not exactly known but could be 'Venuksha' alias Gopalarao Deshmukh of Selu or even a 'Sufi' fakir. Some say " Baba practiced penance at the tomb of His Guru in the cellar under the Neem Tree at Shirdi". Arrival of Devidas at Shirdi (Aged 10-11 years) took place in 1846. When he enquired, BABA mentioned the name of his GURU as Venkusa implying VISHNU (Parvardigar).

1854
Sai Baba first appeared at Shirdi under the Neem Tree (aged about 19 Years) and after sometime disappeared to an unknown place.

1858
Sai Baba returned to Shirdi along with the marriage-party of Chand Patil of village called Dhoop in Aurangabad District and remained at Shirdi for ever till His Samadhi.

1865
Saint Manik Prabhu of Homanabad in Bidar District of Karnataka passed away in 1878, Chaitra Vadya 14. H. H. Akkalkot Swami left His mortal coil at Akkalkot in Solapur District of Maharashtra. (First appeared in 1835). It is reported that three of them (Manik Prabhu, Swami Samartha and SAIBABA) met at Humanabad.

1885
Saint Anandnath (aged 95 years) of Yewala Math and a disciple of Akkalkot Swami visited Shirdi and seeing Sai Baba exclaimed, "This is a precious real diamond."

1886
Margashirsh 15 Sai Baba got rid of an attack of asthma, by going into samadhi for 72 Hrs. April 16 Mahasamadhi of Shri Ramkrishna Paramahansa of Bengal

1889
Abdullah arrived at Shirdi from Nanded (in West Khandesh near Jalgaon and Amalner)

1892 (approx)
Nanasaheb Chandorkar arrived at Shirdi for the first time after being invited by BABA many a time showing his intimate relations with NANA since his many previous births.

1894 (approx)
Das Ganu (Ganesh Dattatreya Sahasrabuddhe) accompanied Nanasaheb Chandorkar to Shirdi for the first time.

1896
Celebration of 'Urus' ( fair) started at Shirdi owing to the efforts of Gopalrao Gund, a Circle Inspector of Kopargaon.

1897
Son (Nanasaheb Rasane) was born to Damu Anna Kasar of Ahmednagar by Sai Baba's Grace.

1898
Sai Baba was seen sleeping on a narrow plank suspended with old rags about 7 or 8 feet above ground with lighted lamps placed on the plank.

1899-1900
Nanasaheb Chandorkar visited Shirdi with his sister-in-law's husband, Shri Biniwale. Baba scolded Nanasaheb for dissuading Biniwale, a devotee of Shri Dattatmya from visiting Datta Temple on the bank of Godavari River to avoid delay in reaching Shirdi.

1900-1902
Sai Baba like a learned Pandit explained Geeta to Nanasaheb Chandorkar, who believed that BABA was not well versed with Sanskrit language of Pandits (learned people).

1903
Das Ganu left Govt. service and as per Baba's instructions settled at Nanded and started performing keertans and writing life histories of recent saints. Das Ganu's book 'Sant Kathamrit' was published. (Ch. 57 about Sai Baba's advice to Nanasaheb Chandorkar).

1904-1905
Rao Bahadur H. V. Sathe first arrived at Shirdi. (Aged 49 years). Nanasaheb Chandorkar's pregnant daughter Mainatai at Jamner in Jalgaon District had severe pains of delivery. Sai baba sent Udi and Arati with Ramgir Gosavi from Shirdi and she had a safe delivery. Sai Baba even took the form of tonga's Rajput driver to make Ramgir reach Jamner safe and on time.

1906
Das Ganu's book 'Bhakta-Leelamrit' was published. (Chs.. 31, 32 and 33 about Sai Baba). Nanasaheb Chandorkar was transferred as Mamlatdar from Nandurbar to Pandharpur. On the way, he stopped at Shird! with his family and started requesting Baba to accompany them to Pandharpur and stay there permanently with them. The devotees then told Nanasaheb about the singing of bhajan just finished in which Baba's mood of going to Pandharpur and staying there for ever was expressed. The text of the song was,'I want to go and stay at Pandharpur .'

1907
Radhakrishna Mai (Sunderabai Kshirsagar) arrived at Shirdi.(Young good-looking widow aged 25 years). She was blessed by BABA who used to send a part of food collected as (Bhiksha) to her.

1908
Sathe Wada was constructed. EkadashiKashirarn Shimpi died. (Chaitra Shuddha 11). BABA saved his life in a mysterious way when he was assaulted by Thieves in a jungle. Pundalikrao of Nanded met Shri Vasudevananda Saraswati. (Tembe Swami) at Rajahmundry on banks of Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh and Swami gave a coconut to be presented to Sai Baba. BABA showed cognizance of Swamiji's gilt and showed his oneness with Swami by describing him as his brother (Bhau). Shri Tatyasaheb Noolkar, (Aged 45 years) the Sub-judge of Pandharpur first arrived at Shirdi in 1908. Gurupournima festival was prompted by Baba for Dada Kelkar, Tatyasaheb Noolkar, Madhavrao Deshpande and others.

1909
Saibaba threw an ochre garment on Balasaheb Bhate, Mamlatdar of Kopargaon, and an atheist, on his very first visit and Balasaheb lost complete interest in worldly matters. He retired prematurely from service and settled down at Shirdi permanently. Bapusaheb (Sakharam Hari) Jog on retirement from Govt. service came to stay at Shirdi permanently accompanied by his wife. Bhimaji Patil of Narayangaon (Pune District) came to Shirdi for getting his chronic tuberculosis at the last stage and was cured by Baba's blessings. Nov 2 Hari Sitaram alias Kakasaheb Dixit (Aged 45 years), a prominent solicitor and M.L.C. first arrived at Shirdi. Baba used to call him affectionately Langda Kaka and removed fear complex from his mind. Kaka Dixit was known for his obedience to Baba's orders. Dec 10 Devotees began to offer regular worship to Baba in the Chavadi, where He slept on alternate days. Dec 25 Baba gave darshan in the form of Sri Rama to a doctor, devotee of Sri Rama who came with a Mamlatdar.

1910
Baba's 'Handi' ritual, occasionally cooking food Himself in a big copper pot and distributing it to devotees and poor people without discrimination. This practice continued till this year. After wards owing to Das Ganu's keertans (musical recitals praising Baba), Baba's fame spread far and wide and devotees started flocking together in large numbers offering large quantities of food as 'naivedya' and thus there was no need of 'Handi. Ramachandra Atmaram alias Babasaheb Tarkhad from Bandra (Bombay) first visited Shirdi. Rao Bahadur Moreshwar W. Pradhan of Santacruz (Bombay) first visited Shirdi. Govind Raghunath alias Annasaheb Dabholkar (Aged 51 years), the author of Shri Sai Satcharita (Marathi), had his first darshan of Sai Baba and received significant and prophetic title of 'Hemadpant. Baba gave him his blessings and inspired him to write SAI SATCHARITA - a religious scripture describing BABA's life story and his divine play (leela) as monumental as GURU CHARITRA- the old monumental POTHI - a poetic religious scripture inspiring worship to GURU, NARASINHA SARASWATI. Balkrishna Vishwanath alias Balasaheb Deo (Dahanu Mamlatdar) first visited Shirdi prompted by Nanasaheb Chandorkar. Deo used to describe him as Baba's child - with a full sense of surrender. Bhadrapad Shuddha 5, H. H. Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon (Buldhana District of Maharashtra) left His mortal coil. (First appeared in 1878). At that very time at Shirdi, Sai Baba grieved profusely and said, "Hallo! My Gajanan is gone. I must take bath again in reverance to the Great Soul." Shrimant Gopalrao Mukund alias Bapu saheb Butty of Nagpur, (a rich statesman) started staying permanently at Shirdi. Harishchandra Pitale's son suffering from epilepsy, was cured by Baba's mere glance at him. Baba gave Pitale three rupees and reminded him of two rupees earlier received by him from Swami Samarth of Akkalkot and thus showed his oneness with all the other SAINTS (Vibhutis). Ashwin Vady13 Sai Baba pushed his arm into the brightly burning Dhuni to save a blacksmith's child. 'The arm was scorched and burnt. Nanasaheb came from Bombay with Dr. Parmananda but Baba did not allow the doctor to treat him.Bhagoji Shinde's service of massaging the arm with ghee and bandaging it continued till Baba's Samadhi. This episode is in testimony to BABA's cosmic existence- HIS super consciousness. Dec 5 Hon'ble Mr. Ganesh Shrikrishna alias Dadasaheb Khaparde of Amraoti (Maharashtra) first visited Shirdi. (Refused on 10 Dec. 1910) Mr.Babasaheb Khaprde was an ardent devotee of BABA and his efforts were instrumental in bringing Loka Manya Tilak- (a great national leader -Khapurde's contemparary) to Shirdi for Baba's darshan and blessings in his movement for India's freedom from the British Rule. Dec10 Foundation-stone of Dixit Wada laid with Baba's permission. Christmas Lala Lakhamichand of Santacruz (Bombay) came to Shirdi. Baba loved him very much and affectionately accepted his petty gifts given with love. Megha returns to Shirdi and stays till his death. In Baba's company he underwent mysterious experiences which transformed Megha from an athiest to an ardent devotee of Baba and spent his life in the service of Sai -Shiva. He regarded Baba as Shiva-Shankar (Lord Shiva-Shankar -the welfare Doer).

1911
Madrasi Sanyasi Vijayanand, while on a pilgrimage to Manas Sarovar, haulted at Shirdi and breathed his last while reading 'Bhagawat' (a religious script written by Saint Eknath) for 3 days on Baba's advice. March Tatyasaheb Nulkar (Aged 48), the Sub-judge of Pandharpur breathed, his last at Shirdi . Baba showed HIS oneness with Tatya Nulkar and described him as a pure soul and expressed HIS grief at Nulkars demise.After Tatyasaheb Nulkar passed away, Megha took over the regular daily worship of Baba in the Dwarakamai. (He used to stand on one leg while performing the Arati). Tatyasaheb Nulkar relinquished everything and stayed at Shirdi in Baba's company till his demise Baba bestowed him with the unique experiences in self realization. Baba advised him and Mr Shyama Deshpande to perform Guru worship (Pooja). Ram-Navami Festival was started at Shirdi owing to the efforts of Shri Bhishma and Kaka Mahajani. Construction of Dixit Wada was completed and was inhabited with due rites. Extension and roofing of the open space in front of the Dwarakamai was carried out by Kakasaheb Dixit. Baba got enraged and tried to shake and uproot a pole. Then removing Tatya Patil's pugree, struck a match, set the pugree on fire and threw it in a pit along with one rupee as if an auspicious offering to avert evil. Baba never liked renovation of his dwelling place viz. Dwarkamai (the masjid) and opposed any such effort by the devotees.1911Somdav Swami alias Haridwar Swami visited Shirdi. June 27, Kashinath Govind Upaswii (aged 41 years) first visited Shirdi and returned again on 6 July. Baba ordered him to stay for 4 years in the Khandoba Temple. Dec, Kashinath Upasani composed the famous 'Shri Sainath Mahimna Stotra (hymn) in Sanskrit. (Now being recited daily during Arati at Shirdi.) Bubonic plague raged at Shirdi (Lasted upto March 15 next year) Baba however saved lives of plague inflicted devotees by taking upon himself i.e. on his body the malody. Baba's grinding of wheat in the hand-mill. It was not wheat that was ground but plague or cholera itself was ground to pieces and cast out of village. Seeing this Annasaheb Dabholkar (Hemadpant) was inspired to write 'Shri Sai Satcharita.' Dadasaheb Khaparde of Amraoti arrived at Shirdi again with family and stayed for 3 months. Shri Krishna Bhishma the author of Arati book 'Sagunopasana' accompanied him. Dadasaheb Khaparde wrote diary (daily record of his stay at Shirdi in Baba's company). Waman Rao Patel (Aged 22 years) (Later Swami Sai Sharanananda) first arrived at Shirdi. Chandrabhan Shet Marwadi, uncle of Khushalchand of Rahata. expired. Dr. Capt. Hate first visited Shirdi (who had just appeared at LCPS examination.) Baba sent him a messege in the dream saying, 'have you forgotten me?'. Sai Baba's great devotee and a great saint of Nath-panth order, Shri Rama Maruti visited Shirdi. (Stayed for 34 days.) '. Ram Maruti offered 'Naivedya' to Baba and Baba very affectionately took a part of it (SWEET SANJA).

1911-12
Sagun Meru Naik arrived at Shirdi at the age of 23 and on Baba's advice settled permanently running a small restaurant for the devotees visiting Shirdi.

1912
Dadasaheb Khaparde's youngest son Balwant was cured of bubonic plague by Baba by taking the disease on himself. Megha fed some Brahmins on completion of his Gayatri Punascharana (a religious ritual). Dadasaheb Khaparde attended it at Sathe Wada. Megha died at Shirdi at about 4 A.M. Baba lamented loudly and followed the funeral procession for some distance. Baba showered flowers on Megha's body. Bapusaheb Jog started performing Baba's Pooja and Arati after Megha's death.He continued this till Baba's Samadhi and even some years afterwards until he shifted to Sakuri and joined Upasani Maharaj there. Transformation of Dwarakamai (the masjid) started. Pits were patched up and the stone slabs fixed on the floor. Baba gave up sack-cloth seat and started using cushion scat and boister in deference to devotees' wishes. Ganapatrao, father of Tatya Kote Patil passed away. Tatya Patil stopped sleeping in the Dwarakamai with Baba. Madhavrao Deshpande (Shama) left Shirdi to attend Kakasaheb Dixit's son's thread-ceremony at Nagpur and Nanasaheb Chandorkar's son's wedding at Gwalior. From there accompanied by Appa Kote, he went on a pilgrimage to Mathura, Prayag, Ayodhya, Kashi and Gaya. At Gaya Madhavrao saw Baba's picture at the priest's house and was reminded of Baba's words, "After visiting Kashi and Prayag I would be reaching the religious place ahead of Shama." Dadasaheb Khaparde returned to Amraoti. Mrs. Laxmibai Khaparde stayed behind. Dada Maharaj Satarkar, known as 'Modern Tukaram', was invited to perform Ram-navami Kirtan.When he bowed down in obeisance, Baba said, "I know this man since last 4 years". Bala Buva had never met Sai Baba before but 4 years ago at Bombay, he had prostrated before Baba's picture. Thus Baba proved to His devotees that seeing His picture was equivalent to seeing Him in person. First visit of Balaram Dhurandhar along with his brothers. Before they arrived Baba had expressed, "Today many of my Durbar people are coming". Baba offered Balaram Chillim to smoke and since then his 6 year old asthma was cured for ever. Guru-sthan padukas were installed under the Neem Tree at Shirdi.

1913
First visit of Mahadev Rao Sapatnekar of Akkalkot accompanied by his younger brother Pandit Rao. When Mahadev Rao prostrated before Baba, Baba shouted 'Chal hat' (Get away) in the protest of absence of faith in Saptnekar's mind and his prejudice for Baba. Baba gave at Dwarakamai darshan of himself as Vitthal and Rakhumai of Pandharpur to the wife and mother of R. B. Purandare of Bandra. Bala Buva Satarkar performed Ram-Navami Kirtan at Shirdi and Baba gave him a gift of Rs.150/- for the Kirtan. These coins were collected in a dish (Thali) after Baba's prayer (Aarti). Baba poured the whole dish in Satarkars bag (zoli). Wamanrao Patel (Aged 24 - 25 Years.) (Swami Sai Sharanananda ji) visited Shirdi again and this time stayed for 11 months. Rao Bahadur Sathe got a son by Baba's Grace at the age of 57 years.

1914
Sapatnekar of Akkalkot arrived at Shirdi again with wife and returned being blessed for begetting a son. Mr.B.V. Deo (Memlatdar of Dahanu in Thane Distict) was charged and reprimanded by Baba for stealing His rag and after lot of abusing and scolding was favoured with instruction to read Dnyaneshawari regularly every day as per Deo's desire. This episode is an example of how Baba sometimes displayed his transcendental powers to read devotees mental inclinations even without formal oral communication. A Sadhak of Yoga (Swami Ram Baba) visited Shirdi and seeing Baba eating bread with onion got suspicious and disappointed. However Baba proved His power of omniscience by reading his mind and the Sadhak returned highly satisfied and blessed. Before the year was over, Baba appeared to Deo in a dream and inquired if he understood Dnyaneshwari properly. Deo said 'No' and added that without Baba's Grace it will not be understood. Then Baba explained to Deo how to read it slowly (and without making haste) with full concentration for knowing the subtle meaning between the lines (Bodha -Knowledge). Das Ganu was ordained by Baba to perform Ram-Navami Kirtan at Shirdi every year. H. H. Shri Vasudevananda Saraswati (Aged 80 years) (Tembe Swami) left His mundane body at Garudeshwar on the banks of River Nannada in Gujarat. Kashinath Upasani left Shird! (total stay 3 years, 19 days) and proceeded towards Nagpur, Khadakpur etc.

1915
Sai Baba suffered from asthma and was very weak. Yet He climbed over Radhakrishna Mai's roof with a ladder. Paid Rs. 2/- to the person bringing and placing the ladder. Honouring a worker for his work, Baba showed how Dignity of labour should be maintained. Balakram Mankar passed away at Shirdi. Mrs Tarkhad (wife of Babasaheb Tarkhad of Bandra) sent a pedha (made of milk and sugar) which was already offered as naivedya and that too with Balakram's son Govindji who was in mourning. Yet Baba swollowed it with great eagerness and love Construction work of Butty's Wada was in progress. Baba occasionally used to go at this place to see the progress of this work and gave instructions.

1916
Sai Baba made Das Ganu to do 'Nam-saptah and Kirtan' at Shirdi for a week. Radhakrishna Mai (Aged 35 years) passed away. Baba used to bless her by sending a portion of food collected by him by way of Bhiksha. Arrival of a Madrasi Bhajani Mela (Party of the Ramdasi Order). Baba gave darshan to the chief's wife in the form of her beloved diety Shri Rama. The chief also got a dream and his attitude towards Baba was completely changed. Nephew of Dr. Mulky from Malegaon (District Nasik), suffering from tubercular bone-abcess, was fully cured by Sai Baba's Udi and his loving glance. The doctor himself visited Shirdi afterwards and became a staunch devotee of Shri Sai Baba realising that Baba's service is to be performed not only for the sake of money or other mundane things but for the welfare of the disabled, helpless and downtrodden. Annasaheb Dabholkar (Hemadpant) retired from Govt. service. On Guru Poumima Day while at Shirdi, Anna Chinchanikar pleaded before Baba for getting some other appointment for Hemadpant as his pension was quite insufficient and his family was growing. Baba assured him about his source of income for livelyhood after retirement. When in the evening Shirdi residents were returning from 'Simollanghan' ceremony (crossing of the border or limits of the kingdom village), Baba suddenly got into wild rage and taking off His head-dress, kafni and langota (loin cloth) etc., tore them into pieces and threw them in the burning Dhuni before Him. The fire in the Dhuni became brighter and Baba stood there stark naked. Later when cooled down and dressed again Baba said, "This is My Simollanghan" and thus hinted at His departure from this world soon on Dassehra Day. This Darshan provided an enlightenment that Baba's body cannot be described as Hindu or Muslim or of any cast or belonging to any religion in vogue. 1916Ramchandra Dada Patil became seriously ill. One night. appearing before him, Baba told him that he would recover soon but Tatya Patil will die on Vijaya Dashami Day in 1918. Thus by substituting Tatya's name for HIS, Baba foretold Tatya's passing away. However, Baba sacrificed his body to save devotees life by saying 'instead of him another person will go?'. Baba averted Gopal Narayan Ambadekar's effort of suicide by prompting him to read an appropriate incident from Akkalkot Swami's Chaiitra (religious scripture) and avoided greatest sin in his devotees life.

1917
Parayana (recitation for 7 days) of Guru Charitra by one Mr Sathe (Not Rao Bahadur Sathe of Sathe Wada) and Baba's vision to him on the last day. Shama narrated to Hemadpant the story of Radhabai Deshmukh and Baba asking Hemadpant to narrate the same to Him again blessed Hemadpant by pouring into his hands sugar-candy as prasad. Lokmanya Tilak arrived at Shird! with Dadasaheb Khaparde for Baba's Darshan. Haribhau Karnik of Dahanu (District Thane) wished to offerd. one more rupee to Baba while leaving Shirdi, but could not do so. On the way at Nasik, in the Kala Rama Temple another saint Narasing Maharaj demanded one rupee from him. Karnik gave it willingly thinking that Baba was demanding the rupee he wanted to offer at Shirdi. Baba fulfilled in HIS many mysterious ways devotees' desire to offer dakshina through all the media. Sai Baba appeared at Thane (North of Bombay) to inquire the well-being of Appasaheb Kulkarni's wife and children when he was away on tour. When Appasaheb returned Baba not only fulfilled his desire of offering Rs.10 as Dakshina but also favoured him by returning nine rupees consecrated by His touch. These nine rupees are the symbol of nine bhakti services done to HIM. Upasani Maharaj (Aged 47 years) made Sakuri (near Rahata) his permanent residence.

1918
Rao Bahadur Moreshwar Pradhan purchased Lendi Baug and later presented it to Shirdi Sansthan'. Baba himself planted some trees at the Lendi Baug. At Vile Parle (East) (now suburb of Bombay) on Hanuman Road, Narayan Mahadev Thosar's residence (later known as Narayan Ashram) was built a Hanuman Temple. On the day it was consecrated, Baba paid Rs. 25 to a Brahmin named Waze and made him perform Shri Satya-narayan Pooja. Prof. G. G. Narke, son-in-law of Butty got a permanent job by Baba's Grace as Professor in the Engineering College at Pune. Baba always remebered him by saying 'where has he (Narke) gone? Baba gave him a begging bag (zoli) for collecting food -an exercise in cultivating humility and eliminating ego. Baba offered Hemadpant a glass of butter-milk and said, "Drink it all, you won't get such opportunity again suggesting that time for his Samadhi has arrived. Das Ganu wrote 'Shri Sai Stavan Manjaril at Maheshwar (Madhya Pradesh) on the banks of River Narmada. Nath Panthi saint Rama-Maruti of Kalyan passed away. Sai Baba had a slight attack of fever which lasted for 3- 4 days. Since then Baba abstained from food and day by day His weakness increased. Baba asked a Brahmin devotee by the name Waze to read 'Raum- Vijay' (by Sridhar Swami) and listened to it for 14 days. A tiger met its death at the feet and presence of Sai Baba and was emancipated.

1918, Oct 15, Tuesday
On Vijaya Dashmi, Sai Baba left his mortal coil at about 2-30 p.m. Few minutes before He gave Rs. 9/- as prasad to Laxmi Shinde. These nine coins represent nine dimensional devotion to GOD.

1918, Oct 16 Wednesday
Early morning Baba appeared to Das Ganu at Pandharpur, in dream and said, "The Dwaraka mai has collapsed and all the oilmen and grocers have troubled Me a lot. So I am leaving the place. Go there quickly and cover My body copiously with flowers". Wednesday in the evening Baba's body was taken in procession through the Shirdi village and then interred in Butty Wada with due formalities. On the 13th day Baba's devotees from all over gathered and funeral rites were performed by Balasaheb Bhate with a feast (Bhandara) to Brahmins and poor. Later Upasani accompanied by Bapusaheb Jog went to Prayag (Allahabad) and performed all the remaining obsequies on the banks of River Ganges.

Sri Satchidananda Samartha Sadguru Sainath Maharaj ki Jai - OMSRISAIRAM