Category: Nama Japa

  • Nature, Uses, and Preparation of Udi- Holy Ash

    Nature, Uses, and Preparation of Udi- Holy Ash

    Based on Chapter 33 of the Sree Sai Samartha Satcharita, here is the discussion on the nature, uses, and preparation of Udi:

    What is Udi?

    Udi is the sacred ash taken from the dhuni, the eternally burning fire kindled by Shirdi Sai Baba in the Masjid. It is regarded by devotees as a miraculous and holy substance that embodies Baba’s power and grace.

    Preparation by Baba

    Baba prepared Udi by offering an oblation of firewood (logs and sticks) into the dhuni. He purchased this wood using the dakshina (monetary offerings) collected from devotees, piling it in large heaps to keep the fire burning day and night. The resulting ashes were then distributed to his followers as a blessing.

    Uses of Udi

    The sources categorize the significance of Udi into both material and spiritual realms:

    • Material World (Health and Prosperity): Udi is frequently used to cure physical and mental ailments. The text states there are “innumerable stories” where Udi was used to benefit the health and prosperity of devotees, acting as a “healing touch in the afflictions of life”.
    • Devotional and Spiritual (Destruction of Sins): Spiritually, Udi serves as a reminder of the transience of the human body and the illusory nature (Maya) of the universe. It teaches that the body will ultimately be reduced to ashes, prompting a focus on the eternal Brahman. Applying Udi with devotion is said to destroy sins and help seekers cross the “ocean of existence”.

    Notable Instances of its Power

    The sources describe two specific instances where Udi—or even road dust used in its stead—demonstrated Baba’s omnipresence:

    • The Jamner Miracle: When Nana Chandorkar’s daughter was suffering from intense labor pains in Jamner, Baba felt compassion from Shirdi. He sent a packet of Udi with Gosavi Ramgir (Bapugir) to Nana. Nana gave the Udi to his wife to administer to their daughter with water, resulting in an immediate safe delivery.
    • The “Road Dust” Incident: In another case, a devotee’s daughter was suffering from the plague. Her father sent a message to Nana Chandorkar asking for Udi. Nana, who was at Thane railway station and had no Udi with him, picked up a little dust from the ground, invoked Sai Baba’s name, and applied it to his own wife’s forehead on behalf of the girl. At that exact moment, the girl’s fever broke and she began her recovery.
  • Let three guiding principles illuminate your path

    Let three guiding principles illuminate your path

    Embrace the divine journey illuminated by Sai Baba, where Guru’s Grace blesses you with profound peace and strength. Immerse yourself in the art of Total Surrender, wrapping your heart in unwavering Humility and Faith, and unlock the door to genuine devotion and remarkable inner transformation.

    Let the following guiding principles illuminate your path.

    1. Guru Grace

    “Guru’s grace is our only sadhana.”

    Sai Baba taught that true realization comes through the grace of the Guru, not merely through intellectual study.

    Step 1 — Remember Sai Daily

    Start the day by remembering Sai Baba silently with devotion and gratitude.

    Step 2 — Read Spiritual Teachings

    Read Sai Satcharitra or Sai teachings regularly with concentration and feeling.

    Step 3 — Pray for Inner Guidance

    Ask Sai Baba to guide your thoughts, decisions, and life direction.

    Step 4 — Experience Inner Peace

    With continued devotion, peace and wisdom begin to arise naturally through grace.

    2. Total Surrender

    Tan, Man, Dhan — Body, Mind, and Possessions surrendered to the Guru.

    Sai Baba emphasized complete surrender with love, trust, and humility viz.,

    Step 1 — Surrender the Body (Tan)

    Use your actions to serve family, society, and people in need.

    Step 2 — Surrender the Mind (Man)

    Reduce anger, fear, ego, and negativity through prayer and self-control.

    Step 3 — Surrender Possessions (Dhan)

    Use wealth and resources responsibly for charity and helping others.

    Step 4 — Trust Sai Completely

    Accept life events with faith that Sai Baba is guiding everything for good.

    3. Humility & Faith

    “Shraddha and Saburi” — Faith and Patience

    Sai Baba taught that humility, patience, and faith are essential for spiritual growth.

    Step 1 — Become Humble

    Avoid pride and learn to listen, respect, and speak gently with others.

    Step 2 — Develop Patience

    Remain calm during delays and difficulties, trusting Sai Baba’s timing.

    Step 3 — Keep Strong Faith

    Continue devotion and goodness even when immediate results are not visible.

    Step 4 — Receive Sai’s Blessings

    Faith and humility gradually open the heart to peace, strength, and realization.

    Om Sai Ram 🙏

  • Self-Affirmation from Chapter XIII of SSSC for Sai Baba devotees

    Self-Affirmation from Chapter XIII of SSSC for Sai Baba devotees

    1. I always say ‘Sai, Sai,’ and HE shall take me over the seven seas .
    2. I trust that as soon as I remember Sai Baba, my sufferings have come to an end; and I am on the pathway to happiness .
    3. I recognize that my cure is due to past evil karma being worked out, and Sai Baba’s intervention hastens this .
    4. I express grateful remembrance, keep unchanging faith, and show devotion to Sai.
    5. I show implicit obedience and prompt compliance with Sai Baba’s order, which is the true dharma .
    6. I am satisfied that Sai Baba is the Sadguru who, by His simple word and touch, relieves all maladies.
    7. I trust Sai Baba even when He suggests remedies, like groundnuts for diarrhea, that may not align with modern knowledge, believing His word is true.
  • Self-Affirmation from Chapter VI of SSSC for Sai Baba devotees

    Self-Affirmation from Chapter VI of SSSC for Sai Baba devotees

    1. ❇️I embrace the wonderful power of the Guru’s touch, which destroys the sins of my past births and cleanses my subtle body.
    2. 🦶I touch Sai Baba’s hand and feet, and awaken my ‘I am He (Brahman)’ consciousness, manifesting the joy of self-realization.
    3. 🧎I prostrate before Sai and surrender heart and soul. As a result, the four chief objects of life (Dharma -Righteousness, Artha -Wealth, Kama -Desire, Moksha -Deliverance) are easily attained.
    4. 🚶I walk the difficult path of Bhakti straight by relying on my Sadguru.
    5. 🍞I am surrounded by an abundance of food and clothing in my home.
    6. 🧏I fix the form of the Sai firmly in my mind, so that it doesn’t wander.
    7. 😌I fix my mind on remembering Sai always, so that it is calm, peaceful, and carefree.

  • Self-Affirmation from Chapter III of SSSC for Sai Baba devotees

    • 🌌As I listen attentively and devoutly to Sai Baba’s stories,My ignorance vanish, and the consciousness of worldly existence abate.
    • 💋I utter Sai Baba’s name with love, HE shall fulfill all my wishes and increase my devotion.
    • 💫If I sing earnestly His life and deeds, Sai Baba shall beset me in front and back and on all sides.
    • 💆I am confident that Sai Baba will draw me out from the jaws of Death.
    • 👂All my diseases will be got rid of by hearing Sai Baba’s stories with respect.
    • 💌The simple remembrance of Sai Baba’s name as ‘Sai, Sai’ destroys my sins of speech and hearing.
    • 🎯Reading of the Sai Baba stories secure me salvation; let me not exhaust myself by other sadhanas.
  • Baba inspires New Seekers. See How

    Baba inspires New Seekers. See How

    New seekers can find immense inspiration in the accounts of Sai Baba for several reasons, primarily stemming from His divine characteristics, accessible teachings, and the profound impact He had on His devotees:

    • Omniscience and All-pervasiveness:

      • New seekers are inspired by Sai Baba’s ability to know all events, past, present, and future, regardless of distance.
      • This quality reassures devotees that Baba is aware of their struggles and intentions, no matter where they are.
    • Curing Maladies and Fulfilling Desires:

      • Baba’s power to cure ailments and fulfill desires inspires many.
      • Stories of His miraculous healings, including serious diseases, highlight His divine capability.
      • He has helped childless devotees and resolved various life challenges, fostering hope for others.
    • Ease and Simplicity of Devotion:

      • The simplicity of devotion to Baba is appealing to newcomers.
      • He did not require complex rituals but encouraged remembering His name, listening to His stories, and meditating on Him.
      • These practices promote spiritual growth accessible to everyone.
    • Nature as a Sadguru and Divine Incarnation:

      • Baba is viewed as a true guru and a manifestation of God, aiming to uplift humanity.
      • His compassion and unconditional love exemplify his divine nature.
    • Acceptance and Unity:

      • Baba’s disregard for caste or religious distinctions inspires many.
      • He honored festivals from both Hindu and Muslim traditions, promoting unity and acceptance in devotion.
    • Grace and Spiritual Progress:

      • Seekers find inspiration in the idea that Baba’s grace leads to rapid spiritual growth.
      • He emphasized surrendering ego and having faith for self-realization and bliss.
    • Ever-living Presence:

      • The belief that Baba remains “ever alive” after His passing provides comfort to devotees.
      • His tomb is thought to still communicate with those who devote themselves to Him.
    • Being “Drawn” to Shirdi:

      • The notion that devotees are “drawn to Shirdi” suggests a divine guidance in their journey.
      • This belief brings comfort and assurance that their arrival is orchestrated by Baba.
  • Complete surrender to the Guru involves

    Complete surrender to the Guru involves

    Complete surrender to the Guru encompasses several dimensions, as elucidated in the Shri Sai Sat Charitra:
    Devotion and Remembrance: This entails a total surrender of oneself while consistently recalling the Guru’s presence, with the necessity of continually chanting the Guru’s name.
    Seeing the Guru in all beings: Engaging in meditation on the Guru allows one to perceive Him within every being, thereby bestowing eternal bliss. A true devotee regards every Guru as Krishna.
    Lack of Egoism: This principle mandates the relinquishment of pride and ego, thereby surrendering to the Guru who resides within one’s heart. The removal of egoism and the complete trust in the Lord liberates one from worldly constraints.
    Service: True surrender requires Sarvaswa Sharangati (total surrender) to the Sad-guru, where one must recognize that they are not the sovereign of their own body; rather, the body belongs to the Guru and exists solely to serve Him.
    Faith and compliance: A disciple’s duty and dharma necessitate implicit and prompt adherence to the Guru’s directives.
    Channeling Senses to the divine: Prior to indulging the senses, mind, and intellect in their respective pursuits, it is incumbent to remember the Guru; such remembrance serves as an offering to Him.
    Experiencing Oneness: The individual who approaches the Guru achieves oneness with Him, akin to a river merging with the sea.
    Desirelessness: The Guru liberates His devotees from desires, rendering them free.
    Love: The Guru desires nothing but love for all sentient beings. Genuine love requires earnest affection; thus, where there is true yearning and feeling, God reveals Himself.
    Mindfulness: Regularly chanting the Guru’s name and engaging in meditation fosters the ability to perceive Him in all beings, which in turn grants eternal bliss. A definitive indication of this practice is the attainment of a calm and peaceful mind.

  • Where certain actions or entities are considered better than others

    Where certain actions or entities are considered better than others

    1. A human body is better than other bodies–
      • Despite its filth, mucus, and susceptibility to decay, disease, and death, the human body’s special value lies in its capacity to acquire knowledge and attain God-vision, which is impossible in any other birth.
    2. Love is better than intelligence-
      • The pure love of Shirdi women, despite their ignorance, inspired them to compose poems, implying that love is more inspiring than intelligence.
    3. Giving food is better than other charities-
      • While other charities like giving away wealth, property, and clothes require some discrimination, offering food requires no such consideration.
      • Also, the merit of feeding lame, crippled, blind, and diseased paupers is much greater than that of feeding able-bodied persons and relations.
    4. Butter-milk (Leelas) is better than Milk (Darshan)-
      • If one desires to see Sai Baba’s but they did not get any opportunity of taking His darshan, their quest for milk (darshan) will be, to a great extent, satisfied by the butter-milk (Leelas).
    5. Remembering and chanting Hari’s and Guru’s name confers salvation is better than getting the powerful Bhakti of the Nathas-
      • one Madhavarao did not like Kakasaheb’s pessimistic attitude of how to get the powerful Bhakti of the Nathas, as he said, ‘has not Baba told us authoritatively that remembering and chanting Hari’s and Guru’s name confers salvation? Then where is the cause for fear and anxiety?’
    6. The observance of the vow of silence is the best way of praising the Sad-guru-
      • In reality, the observance of the vow of silence is the best way of praising the Sad-guru.
    7. Having recourse to Sai Baba’s Feet and surrendering to Him is the best luck-
      • The best luck is to get an opportunity to have recourse to Sai Baba’s Feet and surrender to Him, than any other
  • Complete surrender to Guru=Our mind gets calm and peaceful

    Complete surrender to Guru=Our mind gets calm and peaceful

    • Baba, although we cannot see Your form now,
    • those who believe in You, still have real experiences with You.
    • Through an unseen thread, You bring devotees from near and far.
    • You welcome them to Your Feet and embrace them like a loving mother.

    The devotees may not know, where You are. You cleverly guide them. You help them realize that, You are there to support them.

    • The intelligent, wise and learned folk fall into the pit of the samsar (worldly) due to their egoism.
    • However, You save the poor, simple, and devout persons by Your power.
    • The best way for us is to offer our
      • body,
      • speech, and
      • mind to You and
      • consistently chant Your name to remove our sins.
    • You grant the
      • wishes of those, who seek and
      • provide ultimate bliss to those, who desire nothing.

    Chanting your sweet name is the simplest practice for devotees. Through this practice, our sins and negative qualities will fade away, while goodness and righteousness will grow stronger. This will also lead to better judgment, detachment, and understanding.

    • Then we shall abide in our Self and our Guru (Sai,who are one and the same).
    • This is what is called complete surrender to the Guru.
    • The only sure sign of this is that, our mind gets calm and peaceful

    SSSC -Ch 46

  • Last thought, man has at death-hour, determines his future

    Last thought, man has at death-hour, determines his future

    The last wish or thought that a man has at the hour of death, determines his future course.

    Shri Krishna has said in Gita (VIII-5-6) that “he who remembers Me in his last moments, comes verily to Me, and he who meditates otherwise at that time, goes to what he looks for.”

    We cannot be certain that we can entertain a particular good thought at our last moment, for, more often than not, we are more likely to be frightened and terrif ied by death.

    Hence constant practice is necessary, for enabling us to fix our mind on any desired good thought at any moment.

    All Saints, therefore, recommend us to always remember God and chant His name always, so that we may not be puzzled when the time for departure comes.

    The devotees on their part surrender themselves completely to the Saints, fully believing that the all-knowing Saints (Sai Baba) would guide and help them in their last moments.