Sri Guru Charitra - The Guru in our midst..

Jai Sai Master!

Everyday is a regular day and we continue to live in a state of confusion, with no understanding of what is life and why we were born as humans? Anyone will be surprised if posed a question of that kind, and feel the one who is asking has gone crazy. People who live with the "short term and long term goals in life", do not even know if there can be a purpose in life. However, majority live in constant fear of God and keep going to temples on those "auspicious" days, without even understanding why there are so many of them. When asked, either they shy away from answering or feel those questions are irrelevant in front of the bigger challenges world has thrown at them, like insecurity for family, rising costs, quality of life or horrible traffic which is depriving them of the so called "happiness" which they are searching for in various organisations or bigger hyper malls or multiplexes. 

Behind all these aritificiality, every human being is so confused, many of them want to get on to the route of becoming a Sishya and chooses a Guru for themselves and start proclaiming that they are the followers of so and so, and the rest continue to live their "life". However, if Guru were to be available so easily like a vegetable to be picked up by choice in a super market, then all those scriptures or the Mahathmas would not have struggled so much in teaching or God would have taken rest happily thinking every human being would attain liberation end of their life time. But it is not TRUE. Then, how to go about?

Like for every life threatening problem, there is a strong and challenging solution, here too, there is one. Try preparing oneself to be able to understand what Guru might offer, if at all HE comes infront. Without preparation, no one can face anything. For this preparation, age old tradition is to read scriptures and follow them in real life. 

In Sri Sai Leelamrutham, Shirdi Sai Baba says the following, which says, the one who reads about HIM, talks about HIM or sings about HIM will be protected. All those who follow HIM, will get happiness when they read HIS charitra. HE also says, all those who think about HIM or HIS leelas, or pray to HIM continuously, will be free of issues pertaining senses. HE also said HE will protect anyone from death if they listen to HIS  with bhakthi and sincerity, and will be liberated from diseases, and will get peace and happiness:

One has to constantly read about HIM and understand HIM. Sri Shirdi Sai Baba also indicated to many of devotees to read Sri Guru Charitra, a holy book, which explains life and teachings of Lord Dattatreya and HIS other avataras, Sri Sri Pada Vallabha and Sri Nrusimha Saraswati also knows as Sri Guru. This is the holy book which is recommended to read to prepare oneself well for understanding who is  Guru and why one should aspire for a Guru in life. This is akin to many other religions, where the holy scriptures are read by every member of the family diligently as a tradition. In Sikhism, the Guru Granth Sahib ji is revered as Guru by all Sikhs. In Maharastra, even today, many families do puja to Sri Guru Charitra, as their Guru. That is the importance given to Sri Guru Charitra in our lives.

Every human being must understand what is the purpose of the life, why only self is human while there are many life forms, why intelligent is treated as differentiator and how to use it, to attain the final goal of human life, that is - liberation. On the eve of SRI GURUCHARITRA KRUTAGNATARCHANA tomorrow, let us try our best to follow the chosen tradition and make use of this Holy scripture available for all of us. Let us pray to Lord Dattatreya and HIS many forms, to bless us with the our life goal. 

Jai Sai Master!!

Sree Sadguru Baba Saayee - Tujha waanchuni aashraya naahi bhutalee!

Jai Sai Master!

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Science defines that there is one energy and in different forms. Those who were spiritual in the east, understood this long ago and focused on realising the truth. The same energy, which manifested in every form, be human or animal or plant or any other in this world, is to be experienced rather than understood theoretically. The same energy, was named differently by different people. In some religions there is no limit to what you call the same, and in some, you call only with one name. Be whatever, it is that we all need to experience for we are given with sense faculties and most importantly, thought.

Let noble thoughts flow from all directions - A new year wish!

Jai Sai Master!

On the eve of another year entering in to our lives, looking at the current situation around, probably, the only wish we need to have in our minds is:

Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah! - Let noble thoughts flow from all directions.

To ensure we live "happily" and let others live "happily", there can not be a better message than this in my view. It is proven that there is only one energy that is appearing in different forms all over the universe. The same energy, which is called by different names, repeatedly gave the message that it is all one. 

Sri Shirdi Sai Baba said - I am in Shirdi and also everywhere. The entire universe is in me. All that you see combined is ME. Those who think that I am in Shirdi, have not seen me at all. 

(From Sri Sai Leelamrutam - a holy book written by Sri Sai Master)

Lifetime Teachings 14 - SAI MASTER SAYS.....

Jai Sai Master!

Proving existence of something that is not seen is a very difficult task and particularly when we talk about the ULTIMATE TRUTH. Only the realised souls have the real feel of the same and they say, it is a matter of experience rather than simple explanation, about that state. It is a like current flowing in the wire which helps to light the bulb, which is unseen but exists, when tested. There is no denial of the fact, especially, in this side of the world about that ULTIMATE TRUTH. 

Shirdi Sai, in HIS inimitable ways, taught this in very simple terms. HE never was one to talk of words like Brahman, Maya etc.. Instead, HE taught people how one can feel the GOD in everything around - The omnipresence.

(from Sri Sai Leelamrutam - written by Pujya Acharya Sri Ekkirala Bharadwaja)

A Vijayadasami wish - Let us cross the line!

Jai Sai Master!

There is a real meaning behind celebrating every festival around the year. Particularly for a festival like Vijaya Dasami, there is a lot of meaning and infact, a new life starts on this day for many. Those who are aspiring for success in something, start in right earnest on this day. If we look back at some of the great people as to what they did, it gives us an idea what we should be aspiring for. Leave aside progress of mankind or progress of science to prove the existence of God or such. Let us for a moment think simple and straight to understand what a human being needs to live without any frustration or to live with love and compassion emulating the great nature around us. Probably, a leaf out of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba gives us an idea what we should aspire for and probably that can inspire us to set out on the path for this Vijaya Dasami.

Lifetime Teachings 11- SAI MASTER SAYS.....

Jai Sai Master!

On the eve of Sri Gurucharitra Kritagnatarchana, it would be prudent to understand why we need to do this. In many places, the Granth, the holy book is treated as the very Lord, who stays with us and in our home. In Sri Guru charitra, it is also mentioned that the Sri Guru resides in the form of this holy book and it is important to constantly remind ourselves of this fact while doing parayana.

Sri Ramavadhuta Pichhamma Talli - A brief

Jai Sai Master!

The main aim of every human being is to search for a Sadguru. However, there is only one way of searching for a Sadguru and it is very well explained in "Sri Gurucharitra". The Guru, comes to the seeker, in some form, when the time is right. Till then, the seeker has to read scriptures, visit Mahatmas and read their biographies to understand how to live like them, and prepare himself.

It is easy to read scriptures, but very difficult to know about Mahatmas, as one can not identity by themselves who is a Mahatma. One of the best things that happened to Andhra Pradesh, is Sri Ekkirala Bharadwaja. He gave the world wealth of information on Mahatmas and wrote biographies on few, which are very famous for giving in-depth information about them. One such person, whom he himself visited, was Mala Pichhmma, as she is called.

Avadhuta Pichhmma was born in the year 1870, in a place called Kurumaddali, which is located in Gudivada district of Andhra Pradesh, around 30-40 kms from Vijayawada. From a young age, she was known to be a great soul through her acts. While not much of literature is found in the form of books or biographies, as she is known to say, "keep my memories in the mind and not on the paper", probably, not many turned up. However, when you talk to people, or read whatever little is available on her, one understands the greatness of this soul.

The tree underwhich Pichhammtalli sat and
 meditated for long hours

Place where Pichhammatalli meditated

Amma is used do penance for many hours and when in samadhi, many serpents used to twine her body like garlands. People used to be surprised at her state and used to get scared. She transcended to a different level through her penance and she used to tell her close associates that atma merged in to paramatma. She used to roam around with a piece of cloth around her shunning proper clothing, indicating that all those are for those who are living in this materialistic world. The most surprising part is, when she roamed around freely in the rain, neither her small piece of cloth or the place in which she sat never got wet. She never used to get wet even in heavy rains.

Gratitude - A wonderful word ! (Part 3)

Jai Sai Master

Gratitude...in any language is a wonderful word to express our feelings towards a person who helped us in need.

But the very feeling of gratitude lasts, unfortunately, to few days in today's world which is full of priorities. As other priorities get loaded on to us, we tend to push the feelings down and slowly tend to forget. When this is true in case of people around us, what about the unseen, the so called GOD that we pray to.

It is very important for us to remember what that GOD did to us when we prayed to HIM. HE knows what is right to us and when to give us. Hence, some happen and some do not. Since HE is all-compassionate, full of love, what we deserve we get at opportune time. Only thing we need to do is, to wait patiently without losing focus on what we are supposed to do, do our work sincerely, read scriptures or about HIM, show compassion towards every being.

Lifetime Teachings 8- BABA SAYS.....

Jai Sai Master!

How great we feel if someone says, I will take care of you as long as you live and you need not worry about your life? It will be a wonderful opportunity and, as a human being who looks at security of all sorts as the foremost priority in life, I am sure, these words will give lot of comfort and opens up a different world as we no longer see with securing ourselves.

Sri Sai Baba, is the only one as we all know, who said it openly that HE is here to take care of everyone. Anyone, once in lifetime, look at HIM sincerely and seeks, for the rest of life, HE will take care by giving what is necessary at the time when it is necessary. One need not worry about daily living. Ofcourse, one can not lazy around, but work sincerely, read scriptures or listen to Mahatmas and work for the betterment of overall society. Then, all through the life, HE will take care.


In Sri Sai Leelamrutam, HE says that he needs to account for every single person given to HIM by the GOD.

Gurupurnima Celebrations@Nagole, Hyderabad-3 July 2012

Jai Sai Master!

Today, on the occassion of Gurupurnima, thousands or in lakhs, people would have visited the Sri Shirdi Sai Baba temple or other Mahatma's places seeking blessings of their Guru. The one and only saviour, the manifestation of the Ultimate Truth, The Guru, will be prayed for betterment of self and move closer to the realisation. This is infact, the one and only festival, that Sri Shirdi Sai Baba asked those present in Dwarakamai to celebrate.

Today,

(Translation broadly - Gurupurnima: In the year 1908, Krishnaji Nulkar of Pandari visited Shirdi and was in Chavadi. Sri Sai Baba told Shyama- "Ask that old man to do puja to the pillar near Dhuni". Shyama conveyed the message and returned and immediately Sri Sai Baba told him and others present to join Nulkar in puja. However, Shyama said they would do puja to Sri Sai Baba instead of pillar and pressed hard till Sri Sai Baba consented. When they checked the date, that day happened to be a full moon day and more than that, it was Gurupurnima. They all performed puja to Sri Sai Baba. From then, the tradition of celebrating Gurupurnima started in Shirdi. This was the only festival that Sri Sai Baba told to perform. From "Sri Sai Baba's sayings in  Sri Sai Leelamrutam written by Sri Sai Master)

This became a tradition for everyone across to celebrate on this day and seek blessings of their Guru. 

Lifetime Teachings 7- BABA SAYS.....

Jai Sai Master!

There is a general debate that goes on in everyone who do not believe in God and also in those who believe in God. That debate is on- if God has created everything, they why is that there is a differentiation like Good deed and a Bad deed or anything Good or Bad.

Sri Shirdi Sai Baba said the following:


(Translation broadly - God is afraid of Bad and anything Bad is afraid of God. From "Sri Sai Baba's sayings in  Sri Sai Leelamrutam written by Sri Sai Master)

This is a very interesting line, as one can never imagine how God can be afraid of anything bad. One needs to go back to the fundamental to understand what it actually mean.  In the article written by Divyajanani, the understanding of the statement (page 7 of the Sai Baba Magazine) was explained very lucidly.

Lifetime Teachings 6- BABA SAYS.....

Jai Sai Master!

We all search for something in life. When we are tired of fighting with situations due to various reasons, we start feeling depressed and then search for something elusive, called "happiness and peace". At those times, we generally turn to so called "spirituality" of today's world. With umpteen channels to go with and more than handfuls to choose from as Gurus (self styled gurus), we end up with someone. However, many of these Gurus, who are generally Jet setters unlike Sri Ramakrishna, Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi or Sri Shirdi Sai Baba, do not have time for any individuals and they have mass upliftment programs, which we keep hearing as Sibirs or Sakthipath. 

However, the Sadguru, never delivers enmasse. He, like a seasoned Doctor, delivers the right medicine in right dose depending on the individual's capability. Everyone is treated as separate to work on their samskaras as they prevail upon individual's thoughts. Even if one tries to walk on the right path, if the old samskaras are very strong, they will keep pushing that person from the path repeatedly and only a Sadguru can give the strength and right treatment to stay focused.

[The broad translation of the above is - The greatness of a Sadguru is to grant what one deserves or capable of receiving, based on their samskara.  Otherwise, whoever has read the holy books would have got moksha. It is never like that. ]

Omnipresence of Guru

Jai Sai Master!

This is the essence of Guru tattava. If one can see and feel, everything teaches us something or other continuously and this was very well explained by Sri Sai Master! He started off his every speech by reciting this to remind one and all listening to him that to a learner, everything in this world acts as a teacher. 

The whole world is created in a way to ensure the real seeker starts grasping things from every move and respects everything nature is giving with this thought. Those who understand or read Sri Sai Baba life history (Sri Sai Leelamrutam) can correlate well as to how Baba taught that HE is in everything and everywhere. The above sloka represents HIM in everysense and the more we contemplate, the more the seeker in us gets elated.

Jai Sai Master!

Sri Siddharudha Swamy

" Gajanan visited me at Oubumbur tree near Shahpur. I blessed him. Ram Maruthi Maharaj and Siddharudha were with me at that time".

These are the words spoken by Sri Shirdi Sai Baba when Nana went to him. Sri Gajanan later became a great saint by name, Sri Gajanan Maharaj. 

Sri Siddharudha Samadhi, Hubli

Sri Siddarudha was a great mahatma and a contemporary of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba. One day, Sri Sai Baba distributed sweets to all present. When asked for the reason, he said a person from a Mahatma's durbar came to see  him. Upon enquiring all the devotees present, it was found, one person came from Sri Siddharudha. 

In search of a True Master

Mentorship refers to a personal developmental relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps a less experienced or less knowledgeable person. A commonly used word or process in today's world.

We all know that we need a guide or a mentor to understand this world better and move towards achieving our goals in a more meaningful way. Trickiest part here is, the selection of a mentor or a guide. We generally observe this in colleges where we need to seek a guide. We typically ask a question "who is good?". This depends on our mental state defining good, on the mental state of the person who is giving the answer and his perspective on good. We do not know the impact of it till we cross quite an amount of distance and most of the times, end up repenting.

"All that glitters is not gold."