Sri Sai Leelamrutam - The Secret of Gita!

Jai Sai Master!

Today world over, crores of people are celebrating Lord Krishna's birthday - Krishnastami. A day, which reminds us of the importance of being a HUMAN, for only we are blessed to understand the great teachings of this JAGADGURU. 

Everyone remembers various deeds done by Lord Krishna. However, what HE did in the battlefield of Kurukshetra, is the best that happened to the mankind. BHAGAVADGITA. This itself shows what Lord wanted every human to do. This was made possible, only because Arjun went on questioning. This is the most important point of all. Till Arjuna treated Lord Krishna, though with all due respect, HE remained a normal charioteer. The moment Arjuna bowed and accepted HIM, HE became Arjuna's GURU and delivered Gita. 

Today, many places, Gita is recited by many and everyone has their own style of delivering it. Because of their perspective towards religion or GOD, the way Gita is explained changes. Due to this, we are left wondering which is the right one. In Sri Sai Leelamrutam, the answer was given by Sri Shirdi Sai, for Gita was delivered to a disciple by a GURU or JAGADGURU, to clear his mind and to give him the right perspective on life. When the disciple was finding it difficult, the Lord showed him the reality through Viswarupam or gave a feel of OMNIPRESENCE of HIM. This shattered the myth of life to the disciple, Arjuna and fought with responsibility without attachments. 

Sri Shirdi Sai, asked Nana to explain the verse in Gita (4:34). When Nana, who recited this for years, could not explain properly, Sri Sai Baba explained the real meaning of the same and unlocked the secret of understanding Gita in right sense and in turn defined the purpose of life for every human being. Sri Shirdi Sai Baba, who belonged to all and at the same time to none, due to HIS non-attachment to any particular religion or caste or creed, made everyone understand that the real purpose of life is to find a Sadguru and seek his protection. Apart from this, there is no other way of getting realisation. HE also showed how to search for a Sadguru (through continuous parayana or Sri Gurucharitra and biographies of other Mahatmas and follow them till the day, Sadguru comes to him and gives blessings). 

Hence, Sri Shirdi Sai Baba is the avatar of this Yuga or Kaliyuga and HE is the JAGADGURU. 

On this auspicious day of Krishnastami, may we bow to HIM and seek his blessings to find a Sadguru to walk on the path to realisation. 

Jai Sai Master !!

Science and Sprituality_2- The Progress

Jai Sai Master!

Today, the natural leaning of human kind, or of the majority of human kind, stands somewhere between believer and non-believer of the word GOD. Many a people feel shy to talk about GOD or the related matters, feigning mostly based on the situation they are in. In sly, however, they tend to fear to do anything that remotely feels "against GOD". Why do people develop this perspective? Do we feel inferior thinking that current science contradicts belief in GOD? I feel, this is purely due to improper handing over of knowledge or Knowledge transfer from generation to generations or IMPROPER UNDERSTANDING OF OUR HOLY SCRIPTURES.

We look up to the west thinking that development is happening there and science is progressing rapidly, while it is a fact that our older generations had better knowledge of everything. In this information technology age, when everything can be searched for, we rarely do the right thing, but still depend on tit-bits or hearsay. Unfortunate!

How many of us know that Sri Bharadwaja Maharshi wrote a book named "Yantra Sastram" which describes various machines, planes and their parts? It explains in detail how one can escape enemy planes or directional guides etc..(Vymanika Sastram). Sri Rama asks Bharata whether the fort is being protected by machines appropriately. Raja Bhoja in his scripture "Samarangana Sutradhara" explains what qualities should be there for machine parts, their inter-dependence, perfection and tuning etc for sound proof movement and fuel efficiency. In chapter 31, the generation of hydraulic power is explained.

Paduka Puja at Nagole - August 02, 2012

Jai Sai Master!

Om Samardha Sadguru Sainatha padukabhyam Namaha!
Om Samardha Sadguru Bharadwaja padukabhyam Namaha!
Om Nirguna padukabhyam Namaha!
Om Sadguna padukabhyam Namaha!

On the day of Paduka installation at Shirdi 100 years back, the event was celebrated with utmost reverence at Nagole with Nagara Samkirthana and Puja.

The day which started with regular aarti at 6 am, continued to the next phase, a special event, Padukas being taken around the locality, Nagara Samkirthana. 

Lord Dattatreya, Sri Shirdi Sai Baba and Sri Sai Master
being welcomed  in to  Nilayam after Nagara Samkirthanam

They were taken around the locality in Nagole amidst chanting of Om Sainath Jai Guru Bhradwaja Jai. The slow procession went round and came back to Nilayam, where they were welcomed back by Gurukulam Kids by giving aarti.

The Padukas, a representation of Master or Guru, were kept on pedestal and decorated. Then puja was performed by Babugaru, Sri Ekkilaral Dwarakanath Jnaneswar, in the presence of Divyajanani Alivelumangamma Talli.

Paduka puja in the presence of
Divyajanani Alivelu Mangamma  Talli

After the puja, the significance of Padukas were explained. It is well known in Datta tradition, the padukas represent Guru and they were prayed to. (page 12 of Saibaba Magazine of July 2009. To access the telugu version, click on the link- http://saibharadwaja.org/magazines/SaiBaba200907July.pdf)

August 2, Thursday special - Day of enthroning of Padukas at Gurusthan!

Jai Sai Master!

Gurusthan where the padukas were
enthroned in the year 1912

This thursday, pournami has a speciality. A great day indeed for all the Shirdi Sai devotees and all those, who are yearning for Guru in their life.A day on which 100 years back, Padukas were enthroned at Gurusthan at Shirdi. The story goes, briefly, like this: These padukas were made in Bombay, erstwhile Mumbai, and were brought to Shirdi. Sri Sai Baba said that they were "Allah's Padukas", and should be placed in Gurusthan on a particular day. They were duly installed in a solemn ceremony on the august full moon day (then 15th) of 1912, having been carried in a procession from Khandoba temple (reproduced from Shirdi Sai Sansthan website)

Datta Padukas_Mt Girnar

Sri Pada Sri Vallabha Padukas at Pithapuram

Sri Pada Sri Vallabha Padukas
at Kuruvapuram

Sri Nrisimha Saraswati Padukas 
at Narsobawadi

Nirguna Padukas_Sri Kshetra Gangapur

Sri Manik Prabhu Padukas at Manik Nagar

Sri Swami Samartha Padukas at Akkalkot

Sri Sai Baba Padukas at Shirdi               

For everyone who is yearning to find the elusive "happiness" and "contentment" in life, Guru's feet is the only place where they can find. Let us bow to those feet on this holy occasion.

May we all reach our final destination...that of our GURU's feet, by the blessings of Sri Sai Master and Divyajanani Alivelumangamma talli.

Jai Sai Master!!

Lifetime Teachings 9- BABA SAYS.....

Jai Sai Master!

"Have an open mind and be positive".  We heard this many a time. What does this actually mean? Listen to what we like and that we feel is aligning with our views and leave the rest? Nay. We keep getting knowledge from all directions and every moment. If one has an open mind, irrespective of where, good point will be taken in and etched in our minds for ever and will try to implement the same, as that would help us in betterment as human being and in turn helps creating a better society. (How an individual's value system can impact a society? Read here)

The key here, however, we should know what is good or bad. For this, we need to look up at those, who lived their life as symbols of swadharma and who showed how to live through their lives. They are called Mahatmas. Those who are omnipotent, or can explain lucidly anything to any human being what they are supposed to do and how a particular thing need to be done. Sri Shirdi Sai Baba, through HIS deeds showed how to live a holistic life. HIS teachings are very pertinent in today's world for every individual of the society where value systems are dwindling. 

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.