"I draw to Me, My man from far off or even across the seven Seas to Shirdi, like a sparrow with a string fastened to its feet"-Shirdi Sai Baba, Indian Spiritual Guru-God
Thanks SSS Trust, Shirdi
People from different Religious, Geographical, Economic, and Social backgrounds are brought together here. Their prayers are delivered and successfully resolved with the grace of the Indian spiritual SadGuru-God, Shirdi Sai Baba.
God has agents everywhere; they have vast powers. I have very great powers.
God has helped his devotee (Basappa) through me, (a surrendered soul) I am his instrument.
92.A. Appa Kulkarni, after seeing Mohiniraj (=Siva) by Bab’s order (cf 145) before going to see Dy. Collector at Nivas, to answer charges brought against him and after a acquittal, said “Baba, you have saved me.”
Baba : God has helped you, Appa. He achieves the impossible for his devotees.
92B-Baba-G.D. Pensare prayed to Baba and got a pass in his examination and then employment. When he came to Baba .
Baba : What is your profession ?
GDP-I am a teacher- the employment you gave.
93. Baba- I can revive the dead boy and bring back his spirit from the new body it has entered, killing it and reviving this corpse. But that is marring the useful work the new body will do.
She, the deceased (Spirit) has come to me.
I draw my devotee to me, at the time of his death, even though he may die a thousand miles away (from Shirdi)
I will not allow my devotee to be lost. I will account to God for all those that have been given to me.
97. When (in 1918) Mrs. T. and her son Master T. visited S.B.
Baba- ” Mother, now a days I have been much pestered. Some want wealth, some women, some sons, Hallo! what I have, none wants. I wait and wait; and one day I will suddenly disappear. I am quite disgusted.
Mrs. T’. Baba, why do you say so? Then, what is to become of us?
Baba: Why are you anxious? Is not God taking thought for your welfare? I am very much pleased when my children come to me, and then I take my two morsels of food with gusto and put on more flesh.
Master T. : We come to you to ask just what you have got. You know that?
Baba: Yes. You will get it.
M.T.: Yes, we are quite sure of it. But when?
S.B. : Very soon.
M.T.: Baba, I must have an assurance from you how many more births I will have to take before getting it.( cf 113.)
S.B.: Three more lives will be sufficient.
M.T.: But Baba, will you not be always with us?
Baba : Hallo! During how many births have I already been with you! We shall meet again and again. I have to take care of my children night and day, and give an account of every pie to God.
I put the Rohilla, Pishya and Rao Sahib Galwankar each into his mother’s womb.
(To Akkalkote Sapatnekar). The soul of your deceased son. I shall bring back to your wife’s womb. (Next year A.S.got a son)
I will take my Kaka (H.S.Dixit) in Vimana (HSD had a happy blessed ending).
Para Number in the Book -BCS & Baba’s appearance in the form of other saints
Keshav Naik of Tardev, when Akkalkote Maharaj was passing away (about 1878) thus addressed him: Maharaj, if you go away, what support have we? Akkalkote Maharaj (giving his shoes to be worshiped): My Avatar (spirit) will be at Shirdi in Ahmadnagar District. Go there always. Be devoted there. If you do so, you will not remember me. And you will be happy When Akkalkote Maharaj passed away, Keshav Naik and his son Ramachandra Naik, accompanied by two orthodox Brahmins went to Sai Baba at Shirdi. On the way the Brahmins referred to Baba as a mad moslem fakir to whom no Brahmins could bow. When all four reached Baba.
Baba to Keshav Naik: You and your son may come and visit me, if you like. (Pointing to the other two); These are Karmata Brahmins. Baba to Ramachandra Naik: Fetch Margosa (Neem) leaves. Ramachandra Naik brought some leaves. Baba distributed the leaves to the four. Baba: Eat the leaves. How do they taste? Brahmis (with a wry face): Very bitter. The two Naiks: The leaves are sweet. We ate plenty of the leaves.
Thus Baba parted his sheep from the goats, and confirmed the statement of Akkalkote Maharaj. I am at Mirzgaon (‘Fakir Bua’) Why come here? (To Kusa Bhav) I am Bandra Moulana. [I am Nanded Moulana] You have already given me Rs.3-14-0
75. I am with you wherever you may be. I do not require conveyance to take me.
Baba (May 1914) addressing Mrs. T., a Bandra lady and her son Master T. : “Mother, I have to go thrice a day to your house.” Mrs. T.: Yes, Baba A local lady was astonished at this statement. She saw Baba daily at Shirdi. She said “Baba, what is this strange thing you say?” Baba: I do not speak falsehood. I am Mahalaxmi. Mother I come to your house. You give me things to eat, is that not true? Bandra Lady: Yes, Baba Shirdi Lady: Truly, does Baba go to you and do you feed him? Bandra Lady: Yes. Baba to Master T.: Do I not come to your house? Master T.: Yes, Baba. Baba to Shirdi Lady: Yes, mother, I go easily to Bhav’s house (at Bandra). In the middle, there is a wall. Jumping over it, next comes the railway line, and then Bhav’s house. (Here Baba described the crow’s flight from Shirdi to the lady’s house at Bandra). I have to fly across walls and excavations.
Mrs. Tendulkar of Bandra daily heaped up garlands of bakul (flower) over Baba’s picture in her house at Bandra for two months and then went to Shirdi. Baba : Hallo, Kaka (ie.To H.S. Dixit) these two or three months I have not been at Shirdi at all. This mother has smothered me with bakul flower and I was quite dizzy, and unconscious of myself. Now I am slowly coming around.
I went to Bandra and saw Bhav left nothing for me to eat, so I have returned hungry.
Do you think of me, at meal ? Am I not present near you ? Do you give me a morsel ?
I am not at Shirdi, but in all.
He who thinks that (Sai) Baba is in Shirdi (alone) has totally failed to see (i.e., know) Baba.
Why do you (weep and) behave so madly. Am I not there (at Bombay) by your side?
He (Sai) who is at Shirdi now is also at Machandragad here. It is to teach you this, I sent you here. (To Manker)
I have just been to Kasi and had a bath. I was at Jejuri, Bagat. I was at Dhulia, did you not see me? (To Upasani’s son) When you heard my voice, why doubt? Bolted doors do not bar access to me. (To Megha)
I will go with you (invisibly). Do not worry. Mother, I take thought for your family. Well, Go. I am by your side.
I am myself sitting there (invisibly), guarding you (Purandhare) and your wife.
Wherever you may be, think of me, and I am by your side.
Wherever you may be, whatever any of my devotees think, say or do, that very instant I am aware of it. (cf Quran-“And when my servants ask thee concerning me, then I nigh unto them and answer the cry of him that crieth unto me”
I look equally on all. Not a leaf moves, except by my grace. I look on all with equal eye.
I am formless and everywhere. I am in everything. I am in everything and beyond. I fill all space. All that you see taken together is Myself. I do not shake or move.
All that is seen is my form; ant, fly, prince, pauper.
I am in the water, in dry places, in woods, amidst crowds, and in the solitary wilderness. I am in the fire and in ether. I am not limited to any place.
Feeding the hungry bitch is feeding me. I have the feeling of my hunger being satisfied, when hers is satisfied. Baba to Laxmi Bai Sciedhe: I am hungry. Laxmi Bai Scindhe; Shall I go and bring food? Baba; Do. Laxmi Bai Scindhe; Then brought food; Baba took nothing from it and placed the entire plate before a hungry bitch. Laxmi Bai Scindhe: Baba why do you do so? Baba: Is not the bitch also a Jiva? We talk, bitches do not. She is hungry; she and I are one and the same. It is the same if I eat or she eats.
I am still belching with the heavy feeding you gave the dog this morning. I am also in the mire besmirched pig (that you did not feed, though it came to you). To serve me, give up differentiation, (to Bombay Lady)
Sometimes I come as dog, sometimes as pig. The devotee who recognises me in each form and treats me adequately is blessed.
You have been with me eighteen years Nana. Does “Sai” mean to you only this 3’/2 cubits height of body? I am in the ant and fly. Whenever you see this sign, remember that I am there and that I can eat food through ants, flies etc. 72-A. Baba: This body is but my house. My guru Mourshad has long ago taken me away from this.
I went as a cat to drink this man’s Hansraj’s curds to save him, despite his cussedness. But he beat me to day. I was the black dog. I was the sickly sudra. I am in everything, and beyond. I was the fakir who begged of you, at Bombay. I was the spirit, you saw at midnight under the tree. [I am Akkalkote Maharaj.] I gave you Rs. 2, Pitale(Devotee) 73-A. Baba as a cat is beaten. Baba to Hansraj, an Asthma patient: Do not take curds or taste sour things. But Hansraj was daily preparing curds overnight to drink it, at the noon meal. Daily a cat drank it off and one day he beat the cat. Baba to others, in the presence of Hansraj: “There is an Urphatia. a cussed, cross-grained man. I told him not to take curds. But he daily prepared it. Daily I went as a cat and drank it off, to save his life. Today 1 went again. Do you know what he did? He beat me over the shoulder. See here. (Hansraj looked and found a fresh weal on Baba’s shoulder, though it was a cat, he beat with a stick on the shoulder) cf. 359. 73-B. Baba as a dog and sickly Sudra: Kasinath Govind Upasani-KGU Maharaj, who lived at Shirdi in 1911-4, prepared his food which a black dog was watching. Offering nothing to the dog, K.G.U. went to the masjid and offered it to Baba. Baba: Why did you bring it here? I was there. K.G.U.: Baba, there was none there, except a black dog. Baba : I was that black dog. Baba refused to accept food that day. Next day K.G.U. prepared his meal at his quarters and found no dog there. But a sickly Sudra(Lower caste) was standing, leaning on a wall and looking at the food. The orthodox K.G.U. drove him away from that place and brought the food to S.Baba. Baba : Yesterday you did not offer me food. Today also you drove me away. Why bring the food here? K.G.U.: Where were you there, Baba? Baba.: I was leaning on the wall. K.G.U.: What! Could you be in such a person? Baba: Yes I am in all things and beyond. Purusha Sukta -i.e. HE pervades the earth and transcends it.
Para Number in the Book-BCS and Baba’s saying on His Own Nature
I am god (Allah) I am Mahalaxmi: I speak the truth-sitting as I do at the Mosque. (I am Vittobha of Pandhari) Baba to NG Chandorkar: Go, I am at Pandhari (I am Ganapathi): Mother, all offerings you made to Ganapathi have reached Me. (I am Dattatreya): Are you puffed-up? Where was male progeny in your destiny? I tore up this body and …..gave you a son. (In answer to the prayer, you offered before Datta at Gangapur) (I am Laxmi Narain): Why go for Ganga elsewhere. Hold your palm at my feet. Here flows Ganga. What matters it, whether in your meditation you see this (Sai) figure or the figure of Laxmi Narayana? (I am Maruti): My father dedicated me to Maruti. I make gestures before his temple, telling him I am his brother.
(I am Krishna): Saibaba (seated in Dwaraka Mayi) to Uddhavesa Bua: “Give me Rs.11 dakshina”. Uddhavesa Bua: I have given my ten Indriyas(5 Sense organs & 5 Action organs) and mind. Baba: No. Who are you to give them? They are mine already. Read Pothi i.e., do Parayana. Uddhavesa Bua: Of what Purana? Baba: Of that in which I have spoken to you, and in which I still speak to you Uddhavesa Bua: Is it Gita? Jnaneswari? Baba: Go and fetch, what Bapu Saheb Jog is reading
Uddhavesa brought XI skanda of Srimad Bhagavatha from Jog. Baba: (slipped his finger into the book suddenly and said) Read this. [It opened at Krishna Uddhava samvada] Daily read this, and then sit at my feet and meditate on it. [N.B: That meditation is the gift of 11 INR, eleventh Skanda to Baba, Sai-Krishna, seated in the heart.]
All that (viz, other Gods) is Allah (to Rohilla)
Devotee: Baba, who are you? whence? Baba (in the absolute mood): I am the Attributeless, Absolute, Nirguna. I have no name, no residence. (Again in the mood of Duality): I got embroiled by Karma, and came to a body. (So) I got a name and abode. Dehi, i.e., the embodied, is my name; and the world is my abode. Brahman is my father and Maya, my mother. As they interlocked, I got this body. The world is evanescent, mutable.
I am Parvardigar (God). I live at Shirdi and everywhere. My age is lakhs of years. My business is to give blessings. All things are mine. I give everything to everyone.
I am in Gangapur, Pandharpur and in all places. I am in every bit of the globe.
All the universe is in me.
Stick to the one whom you worship or revere. God will protect you soon. 65-A. Baba To Shankar Rao Gowhanker : ‘”They had many, giving them trouble. As they were with me, they did not suffer by that trouble. God punished the troublers. See, God rewards the doers of good and punishes evil-doers.
I am the Progenitor of God. Mediate on me as pure Ananada Nirakara; but if you cannot do so, meditate on this this Sai Body exactly as it is.
I am not the body or the senses. I am the sakshi-witness of all these. I do nothing. I receive nothing.
Devotee: Baba burn on your hand to be treated. It must pain you so much. Baba: what fun will it be (for me) to stand by and see the whole of this (Sai Baba) body burning on a funeral pyre of cow dung cake fuel?
Para Number in the Book-BCS & Baba’s Sayings on His Mission are
Saints exist to give devotees’ temporal and spiritual benefits. Dr. Pillai need not have ten more births for this. All the pain can be endured in ten days.
I have come to give such good things to the devotees.
My business is to give blessings.
A devotee objected to people going to Baba for temporal benefit e.g., employment, money, children, cure of disease. Baba: ‘Do not do that, My men first come to me on account of that only. They get their heart’s desire fulfilled and comfortably placed in life; they then follow me and progress further. I bring my men to me from long distances under many pleas. I seek them and bring them to me. They do not come (of their own accord). I bring them to me. However distance – even thousands of miles away- my people might be, I draw them to myself, just as we pull birds to us with a string tied to their foot.
This is a Brahmin, a white Brahmin, a pure Brahmin. This Brahmin will lead lakhs of people to the Subhra Marga and take them to the Goal-right up to the end. This is a Brahmin’s masjid.
Para Number in the Book ‘BCS’ & Baba’s Sayings on his Own-Name, the followings
My eye (of vigilant supervision) is ever on those who love me. Whatever you do, wherever you may be, ever bear this in mind that I am always aware of everything you do.
If one ever meditates on me, repeats my name, signs my deeds, and is thus transformed into me, one’s Karma is destroyed. I stay by his side always.
You should have truth always with you. then I shall be always with you, wherever you are, and at all times.
I will be with you, whenever and wherever you think of me. Do not fear.
If one perpetually thinks of me, and makes me his sole refuge, I am his debtor and will give my head to save him.
If, one ever dwells on me in his mind and will not even taste food before offering it to me, I am his slave. So also if he hungers and thirsts after me, and treats all else as unimportant.
I am (Bhaktaparadeena) the bond slave of my devotees, I love devotion.
He who withdraws his heart from wife, child and parents and loves me is my real lover and he merges in me like a river in the sea.
Saibaba: The key of my treasury is now placed in your hands. Ask for anything you want, Rs. 5 to 100 a month or what you will and, I will give it to you. Devotee (M B Rage) declines to ask. Baba: Ask something, I am anxious to give you. Devotee: Is it agreed that you will grant anything I ask for? Baba: Yes Devotee: Then, Baba, I want this. In this and in any future birth that may befall me, you should never part from me. You should always be with me. Baba: Yes, I shall be with you, inside and outside you, whatever you may be or do.
My devotee feels me in you, in himself and in all creatures and sees all as his Guru. He will become like me.
If you make me the sole object of your thoughts and aims, you will gain Paramartha. (supreme Goal) Look to me; I will look to you. Trust the Guru fully. That is the only sadhana. Guru is all the Gods.
If one devotes his entire mind to me and rests in me, he need fear nothing for body and soul. If one sees me and me alone and listens to talk about me and is devoted to me alone, he will reach God (Chaitanya). He who worships me as Nitya, Suddha and Buddha comes to me.
Those who perpetually repeat my name reach their goal.
Simply say “Sai” “Sai” with heart overflowing. I care not for show of respect and forms, I rest in such devotees.
Repeat my name. Seek refuge in me. But to know ‘who I am” have Sravana and Manana.
I am formless and everywhere.
If anyone casts his burden on me and thinks of me, I look after all his concerns.
Yes; you can place your burdens on me.
In the abode of my devotees, there will be no dearth of food and clothing.
You devotees are my children. I am your father. You have to get everything from me. So you should not talk like that (say Sai is not God).
Why are you anxious? I take all care of you.
Sit quiet, Uge Muge. I will do the needful. I will take you to the end.
Go Everything will be provided, Babugir. I will provide for you, Ganu I will provide for Manker’s son.
Why do you fear? Am I not here (where you go to ease yourself?)
Stay here, treat it as your house Governor came with a lance to pierce Dada (G.S.K). I had a tussle with him and drove him out. Finally I conciliated him. Why should any fear, when I am here?
When this baby sleeps we have to stand by, keep awake and watch or take trouble.
I will not allow my devotees to come to harm. I have to take thought for my devotees. And if a devotee is about to fall, I stretch out my hands, and thus with four, four (i.e. a number of), outstretched hands at time to support him. I will not let him fall.
I am its (frog’s) Father, and am here. Will I let the snake eat it? See how I effect its release…….. “Hallo Veerabadrappa, be ashamed of your hatred. Give up hatred. (The snake dropped the frog). I have kept my word and saved Basappa (the frog from Viradadrappa, the snake). God has saved him by sending me.
See I have to suffer for your sake, to remove your sufferings. I Will not let you die. I will die first ere I let you die (Nandram) (Nandram lived long after 1918) Nana is about to die. But will I let him die? (535-A) Fakir (God) wishes to kill Dada Saheb (i.e., G.S.Khaparde), but I will not permit him. O Annah! if I had delayed a minute, this man (S.B.Nachen) would have indeed perished. The madman had seized him with his hands, even his throat. But I extricated him. What is to be done? If I do not save my own son, who else will.
He is mine, and mine alone. I alone have to shoulder the responsibility for carrying him across. Whom has he got except me?
(After Cholera goddess was driven away) You are now safe, Go.
Night and day, I think and think of my people, I con/recite their names over and over again. Baba to.Dhumal: “Bhav, the whole of last night, I had no sleep. I lay thinking and thinking of you. At every step, I have to take care of you, Else, what will happen to you, God knows.”
I shall never forget him; I shall remember him, even if he is 2000 miles away. I will eat nothing without him.
I get angry with none. Will a mother get angry with her kiddies? Will the ocean send back the waters to the several rivers? I love devotion. I am the slave of my devotees, Bhakta Paradhina.
How can I allow my children to fast or starve?
Come, Sirs, carry away bags of udhi. Come, cart away the treasures of your mother. Look here, People come and say Baba, give. I tell them to take. No one takes.
My master told me to give bounteously to all that ask. No one listens to me or wisdom. My treasury is open. None brings carts to take from it. I say dig; none will take any pains. I said dig out the treasure and cart it away. Be the real and true sons of the mother and fully stock your magazine. What is to become of us i.e. this bodily life? Earth will return to the earth; and the air (breath) will return to the air. This opportunity will not return.
Place your entire faith in my words. Your object will be accomplished.
Baba To Lakshman on 15-10-1918 : Jog thinks I am dead. I am living. Come and perform morning Arati
(Give me) my 1¼ Rupee (Majya Savva Rupya)
My tomb will speak and move with those who make me their refuge.
I shall be active and vigorous from my tomb also.
Even after my Mahasamadhi, I will be with you, the moment you think of me, at any place.
As soon as a devotee calls unto me with love, I will appear. I require no train to travel.
This is Dwaraka Mayi of ours on which you are setting. This wards off all dangers and anxieties from her children. Highly merciful is this Masudi Ayi. She is the mother of those who place their entire faith in her. If they are in danger, she will save them. Once a person climbs into her lap, all his troubles are over. He who sleeps in her shade attains bliss.
What can the snake do to Dwarakamayi’s children? They look on amused, when the snake appears. When Dwaraka Mayi protects, can the snake strike?.
We have no need to fear. Strike, let me see how you can strike and kill (ef-36,473)
This is not a mosque. It is Dwaraka. Those who seek refuge in her will never be harmed.
As soon as one climbs the steps of the mosque, suffering due to Karma are at end and, joy begins. That Fakir (God) is very kind and will relieve your troubles.
When any one enters this Dwaraka Mayi, his goal (object) is achieved.
This place (Dwaraka Mayi) is for Tarana i.e., saving people, and not marana ie., killing them.
I do nothing. I receive nothing. Datta calls for his own. He has called for Rs.15/-, his due and given it to Masudi Ayi. So the money has been received (By me)
The author of this Book is Pujya Sri H.H. Nara Simha Swamiji- Founder & First President of All India Sai Samaj, Chennai , India.
A) Shirdi Sai Baba:–
Baba’s training, teachings and achievements were of widely different sorts. They were suited to the conditions of each person who approached him. They are also suited to the conditions of those who approach him now.
Baba is still a Guru, a Divine Personality. He is not a mere abstraction. He can be seized by those who are in dead earnest.
Unfortunately for mankind, very few are so earnest. Most stop with raising preliminary questions, as to the impossibility of such an experience or its undesirability and the various objections, from the standpoint of the learning that they have already acquired.
If the highest is not possible at the present moment, Baba suitably develops them. This development occurs either in this life or in the life beyond. Baba has repeatedly undertaken to guide his devotees. He promises to guide them life after life, and to be born with them for that purpose.
–By H.H. Narasimha Swamiji, Author of this Book, in his Preface
B) Parts of this Book-LoSB on Sai Baba.
The object of this book, is to help people to realise more and more the great work, that is being done by Shirdi Sai Baba and his essential greatness. This Book consists of four Volumes /Parts.
Part I- History, Personality, Nature, Functions of Sai Baba
The early history and accounts of Baba and the materials are necessary to understand Baba as a Samartha Sadguru. He will help one to attain the highest in life. At the same time, He enables one to get the other incidental benefits of contact with such a saint.
Part II -Sai’s Apostles and Mission
This second part mainly consist of Baba’s dealings with various prominent persons. It shows how they were drawn to him and influenced by him. It also illustrates what progress they made. Additionally, it details how they were helped to make it by reason of their contact with him.
Most of the Bhaktas were drawn for specific temporal gains, but they stuck on and became very good Adherents of Baba.
Part III. -Baba’s Lovers
Baba’s prominent devotees, not in Part II, must come into here. They like something unintelligible, “just like Love at first sight of a pure Girl with a pure bachelor”.
Part IV- Life and Teachings of Sai Baba
Which as the residuals and final part must include general matter not covered by the previous parts. The spiritual and mystical personalities, such as Saints like Sai, embody an adventurous and worthy life. They think intellectually in the pursuit of their lives.
The life of Sai Baba especially gives a very tough treat for the spiritual seekers. Only a few writings present so vivid a picture of the life and teachings of Sai Baba. They do so in such a descriptive form. For this reason, this volume stands out.
C) Baba provided Ankita children for this Book Project
Sri Krishna says, ‘Those who rescue my entirely devoted bhakta from his troubles, I shall rescue and help them. I will save them from all troubles and calamities. A boat rescues one in the ocean in the same way’. Baba somehow gives the feeling to the author’s helpers, that they are being looked after by him.
Baba provided his Ankita child with a stenographer who, out of modesty, wishes to conceal his light under a nom-de-plume R.R. Without the help of a stenographer, turning out any work would be impossible. This applies to work for the book, for the Sai Sudha, or for the numerous pamphlets constantly requisitioned by others from this author.
Since October 1953, the author’s health has been extremely unreliable. The work would have been impossible without the due provision of medical help. Here again Baba’s help to his Ankita child is remarkable. Baba designated a doctor in a very good position. The doctor had excellent knowledge. Baba made him repeatedly attend without receiving any recompense at all.
Baba’s grace alone made the work see the light of day. It also aided in getting the means for publication. The royal present of Rs.5,000 by His Highness The Maharaja of Mysore, enabled the All India Sai Samaj to purchase a Press and Types.
There may be numerous others (Sri Dewan Bahadur R.V. Krishna Ayyar and Miss Indira, Professor of English, etc) who have helped this author in the course of getting up this book.
Stage after stage, idea after idea, and reference after reference, the remarkable help that was suddenly forthcoming was the clearest evidence to the Author that, Baba is giving unstinted support for this publication. Fact it is not mere modesty, but love of truth that makes the author say that, “the real producer of this book is Baba himself“.
– By B.V. NARASIMHA SWAMI, Author in Preface to Part I in 1955
D) After studying “Life of Sai Baba”
A properly written life of Sai (like all saintly biography, cf. “Jo Sant, Toch Dev” i.e. Saint is himself God) would be a scripture in itself.
One should rise from that study with the feeling that they have been through scripture. They should mentally keep in touch with God. This allows them to derive all benefit necessarily flowing from such contact.
The benefits are temporal, intellectual, moral, spiritual, etc. There is no limit to the benefit one can derive from such contact.
A saint’s life is like the milk of the ocean. From it, one might extract, a few interesting bits of saintly biography. It also offers a collection of apothegms, counsels, reflections and other miscellaneous items. But the main interest is still the milk of ocean. It will yield an infinite and inexhaustible supply of divine nectar.
The essentials of the Bhagavad Gita, for instance, have always been regarded as a valuable religious mine. They have been found to embody what is contained in Sri Sai’s life. Sri Krishna and Jesus Christ are better understood, after studying Sai Baba’s life than without such study.
PS: The collection of data was made for this book project, by the great author, after 36 years of Sai Baba’s Mahasamadhi. (LoSB-Ch 1)
“It is our earnest desire and intention that, the book of “Life of Sai Baba” written by our revered Founder and First President H.H. Narasimha Swamiji, to reach the hands of numerous Sai Devotees, who are earnestly interested in attaining “Sai Bliss”. –By the Publisher, Management of All India Sai Samaj, Chennai-600004, India
“Presenting the Great Master Sri Sai Baba to the world through his intensely dedicated service, Sri Narasimha Swamiji has made himself into a living golden link between the present generation and Sri Sai Baba. Yes, Sri Swamiji is still active from His tomb. He guides millions of devotees to the feet of his Master.
This book will surely fulfill its glorious task of helping, guiding and transforming countless lives on their onward progress towards Divine Perfection. All glory to Sri B.V. Narasimha Swamiji Maharaj! Glory, Supreme glory to Samartha Sadguru Sai Baba!” – In Foreword to Part 1 by -By His Holiness Sri Swami Sivananda of Divine Life Society, Rishikesh, India.
“During the last 20 years, thanks to Swamiji’s energetic propaganda and publicity, Shri Sai Baba has attracted devotees from far and near, as also from all sects, communities and religions. They come from all sections of the society and, in particular, from its intelligentsia. In the case of the latter, one has to carry them across the fields of doubt and scepticism before they reach the other shore of spiritual enlightenment; and are safely and for ever established on the bedrock of faith in and devotion to the Divinity that Shri Sai Baba WAS and IS”. -In Foreword to Part II by Sri B N Datar, then Home Minister, Government of India
Extract from Pujyasri H.H. Nara Simha Swamiji’s ‘Life of Sai Baba’ book-LoSB
Earnest readers, who are anxious to study the history of Sai Baba (who realised in himself the perfection of Godhead by attaining Purnalaya) -concentrating his mind always on God with intense love from his earliest period of life; and -thereby attained Aikya (merge with God), -so that he could say Mainm Allahum, that is Aham…
“There has not been a good biography containing a fair, full and faithful description of Sai baba’s life. Other small sketches or introduction to Baba’s life have been published in English and other languages, but these also are too tiny to deserve the name of a biography, sketches of a few early incidents in Baba’s…
“5 minutes Nov 7, 2024 4:45 PM The author of this Book is Pujya Sri H.H. Nara Simha Swamiji- Founder & First President of All India Sai Samaj, Chennai , India. A) Shirdi Sai Baba:– Baba’s training, teachings and achievements were of widely different sorts. They were suited to the conditions of each person who approached…
I request the readers to leave out the various hindrances viz. indolence, sleep, wandering of mind, attachments to senses, etc. and turn their whole and undivided attention to these stories of Sai Baba. Let their love be natural, let them know the secret of devotion; let them not exhaust themselves by other Sadhanas, let them…
Dasganu, by his splendid Kirtans, spread the fame of Baba in the Konkan (Bombay Presidency). In fact, it was Dasganu – May God bless him-who, by his beautiful and inimitable Kirtans, made Baba available to so many people there.
The audience, who come to hear the Kirtans have different tastes.
Some like the erudition of the Haridas;
some his gestures,
some his singing,
some his wit and humour,
some his preliminary dissertation on Vedanta, and
some others, his main stories and so on;
but among them, there are very few, who by hearing the Kirtan get faith and devotion or love for God or saints.
The effect of hearing Dasganu’s kirtan on the minds of audience was however electric, as it were
Govind Raghunath Dabolkar, called Anna Saheb Dabolkar, was Mamlatdar and first class resident Magistrate.
His work ‘Sai Satcharitra’ in Marathi Ovi verse extends to a thousand pages. Maharashtra Sai bhaktas treat it as Sai Ramayana or modern Guru Charitra. They give it the respect due to ancient puranas. Even others respect it when they gain access through N.V. Gunjaji’s English adaptation or translations in Telugu, etc.
This work is highly meritorious and has been the instrument for many people becoming Sai bhaktas. The verses are highly sonorous. The stories about Sai Baba collected from various individuals are based on actual experiences. These stories have great charm and are always fresh.
On his first visit to Shirdi and Sai Baba in 1910, went to the mosque. He and his friend Bala Saheb Bhate prostrated before Baba. Baba pointed to Dabolkar and said, ‘What talk was going on there at the wada? And what did this Hemad Pant say (pointing his chin to Dabolkar)?’. Dabolkar’s name was not Hemad Pant at all.
Hemadpant-“I began to think why Sai Baba should call me by the name Hemadpant. This word is a corrupt form of Hemadripant.
This Hemadripant was a wellknown Minister of the kings Mahadev and Ramadev of Devgiri of the Yadav dynasty. He was very learned and good-natured. He authored good works, such as Chaturvarga Chintamani (dealing with spiritual subjects) and Rajprashasti. He invented and started new methods of accounts and was the originator of the Ovi (Marathi Shorthand) script.
But I was quite the opposite, an ignoramus, and have dull, mediocre intellect. I could not understand why the name or title was conferred upon me. However, after thinking seriously about it, I thought that the title was a dart to destroy my ego. This way, I should always remain meek and humble. It was also a compliment paid to me for the cleverness in the discussion#. (# before he started from Wada/Lodge to Sai Temple, he had some hot discussion with Bala Saheb Bhate about”Guru’s essential ” for 30 minutes)”.
Looking to the future history, we think that Baba’s word (calling Mr. Dabholkar by the name Hemadpant) was significant and prophetic, as we find that he looked after the management of Sai Sansthan very intelligently, kept nicely all the accounts and helped greatly in the publications of ‘Sai Lila Masik (Magazine)’ also as the author of such a good work “Shri Sai Satcharita (SSSC)”, which deals with such important and spiritual subjects as Jnana, Bhakti and dispassion, self-surrender and self-realization.
"I draw to Me, My man from far off or even across the seven Seas to Shirdi, like a sparrow with a string fastened to its feet"-Shirdi Sai Baba, Indian Spiritual Guru-God 