"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.
Baba’s answer to the question ‘What is God’ is, that question cannot be answered in words of course, as the real truth about God is one to be felt at heart.
One should grow into God and then only he knows God. It is only by developing the little spark of Love that Baba will ignite in your heart, and blowing it into a name, that you can be transformed into a mass of love.
God is love, nothing but love. Everything it touches is turned into love. Even the basest creatures feel the power of the purely loving soul, and tigers and murderers give up their qualities in the presence of a fiercely loving soul
It is only when a soul gets to be so very powerful, magnetic, or dynamic with love, it understands and expresses God as love. No other answer to the question ‘What is God” is worth having.
If we have discussed at present, the question of a disciple’s position to attain spiritual perfection and God-realisation at the hands of a Guru, we have to lay emphasis on each one of the qualification.
If any readers are anxious to have such Guru, they will discover that the unseen Sai Baba is still such a Guru, and if one puts oneself into contact with him and adopts the fullest possible quantum of qualifications described, then he has the very best chance of being moulded by Baba into the perfection of sainthood, perfection of Atma-nishta and Brahm nishta sishya.
By his vatsalya, Baba is still going on, from his unseen position, undertaking the entire responsibility for the temporal and spiritual welfare of earnest devotees or discipies who get prepared and are eager to meet him.
Baba says- “Then he took me to a well, tied up my legs with a rope and suspended me, head downwards, from a tree by a side of the well. My head was about three feet off the water , which I could not reach. And my Guru left me there and went away, God knows where.
He returned after 4 or 5 hours and asked me how I fared. “In great bliss was my time passed”, answered. The Guru, mightily pleased with me, drew me near him, passed his palm over my head and body and spoke to me tender words dripping with love, and he put me into his school where entirely forgot my father and mother and all attachments and desires.
“I loved to gaze at him. If he were not there to see, I would not like to have eyes at all. I did not wish to go back. I forgot all other things but the Guru. My life was concentrated in my sight and my sight in him. That was the object of my meditation.
In silence I bowed. “Meanwhile Realisation flashed upon me of itself without effort or study, purely by his grace”
In Baha’s school, the Guru does not teach. He radiates or pours influence. That influence is poured in and absorbed with full benefit by the soul which has completely surrendered itself, and blotted out the self, but is obstructed by the exercise of intelligence by reliance on self-exertion and by every species of self-consciousness and self- assertion.
He did not regard japa and meditation as sufficient for the sishya. These produce in the sadhaka Abhimana or Ahamkara. Unless and until Ahamkara is completely wiped out, the Guru is unable to pour all his influence into the sishya.
Baba, therefore, would tell some devotees, “Be by me and keep quiet and I will do the rest’, that is, ‘secretly or invisibly’. Of course faith in him-absolute faith-is a pre-requisite.
One who was merely seeing him and staying by him for a while got faith. Baba gave experiences to each devotee of his vast powers of looking into his heart, into the distant regions of space and time, past or future, and these infused faith.
One need not swallow things on trust. The solid benefit, temporal or spiritual, reaped by the devotee, and his feeling that he is under the eye and power of Baba always, wherever he may be and whatever he may do, give him an ineradicable basis for his further temporal and spiritual guidance.
Baba’s is the power that controls this world’s goods and our fate here and now, as well as our experience and fate in the future in this world and many unseen worlds.
The college professor Mr.G.G. Kanala concludes that the duty of a devotee under Baba is only to keep himself fit for the Guru’s grace. That is, he should be chaste, pure, simple and virtuous, and he should look trustfully and sincerely to the beloved master to operate on him secretly, and to raise him to various experiences higher and higher In range, tilI he is taken at last to the distant goal.
‘But one step enough for me’ is the proper attitude now. He need not take the trouble to decide complicated metaphysical and philosophical problems about the ultimate destiny. Devote is ill-prepared to solve them now.
The Guru will lift him, and endow him with higher powers, vaster knowledge, and increasing realisation of truth. And the end is safe in the Guru’s hands.
Santaram’s father attended Das Ganu’s kirtan wherein Das Ganu gave a full account of Sai Baba, and described him as Datta Avatara, having wonderful powers and wonderful kindness.
He brought also a picture of Sai Baba home, and with it Baba puja began in the house. In 1912, Santaram first visited Shirdi.
Then he had appeared for a departmental examination (revenue test), and went to Shirdi with two friends. At the Kopergaon railway station, the Station Master heard of their proposed visit to Baba and began to abuse Baba saying that undue honour was given to a mere hypnotist, who was gulling people like so many wandering jugglers and thaumaturgists. This made the impressionable Santaram very unhappy. He was beginning to have his doubts about Baba
He reached Shirdi anyhow. The first sight that he caught of Sai Baba was when Baba was walking from the Lendi to the Mosque. On the way Santaram and his friends met Baba. Baba looked straight at Santaram, and said, “What? Have you come away without taking leave from the Mamlatdar?” The reply was Yes.
Baba said, “Don’t do so hereafter“. At once, the object of these remarks was evident. Baba revealed his Antarjnana (of Santaram, being a Mamlatdar’s clerk and his coming without permission) and motherly kindness towards his devotee who was wavering. The Antarjnana and the kindness showed the worthlessness of the Station Master’s remarks
It was for that purpose evidently that Baba addressed those words. This was only the beginning of a series of similar experiences during his three days of stay at Shirdi.
Each instance showed Baba’s kindness and powers more and more cleariy and forcefully. At the end of three days, Santaram was perfectly assured and confident that Baba was Datta God.
When Chakra Narain, a Christian, was appointed as Sub- Inspector at Rahata, some of his followers, who were displeased, went and told Baba, “The new Fouzdar is neither a Hindu nor a Muhammadan but a Christian’. Baba’s retort was What of that? He is my brother’. It must be remembered that Baba was called a Maharaja and looked exactly like a Maharaja in the midst of all regal paraphernalia. His powers also struck Chakra Narain as marvellous, that is, his powers of clairvoyance, and clairaudience, in popular parlance, but known to scholars as Antarjnana or Ritambhara prajna or Pratiba.
In his statement in the book ‘Devotees’ Experiences, Volume I Page 117 in October 1936, he showed some appreciation of Sai Baba
He admitted that he was not a believer in Baba, but he began to admire his noble qualities which he came to know when he was ordered to watch Baba. He and some of his men were watching Baba for various purposes including income tax. He conceived a great regard for Baba because he found that Baba was not moved by kuamini or kanchana (woman or wealth). Many women would come to Baba and place their bare heads on his hare feet and sit close to him. But Baba was totally unmoved.
This fouzdar was asked to watch Baba regarding the money he received from people Here also he had great admiration for Baba. When Baba died, the Government took possession of his cash and the amount with him was only Rs. 16. Yet he was daily giving hundreds of rupees. and Chakra Narain was wonderstruck at the fact that His riches (which they noticed) were limited, and that though there was no stock of cash with him at the beginning of the day, at the end of the day he had paid hundreds of rupees (miracle). Wherefrom did the excess come for him to disburse or pay? The Police could not make out. Therefore Chakra Narain concluded that Baba had divine powers.
In the fourth visit, Baba said to Imam Bhai Chote Khan of Vajapur, “Gulab” has come to your house.” Imam Bhai Chote Khan returned home. He learnt that his wife had recently delivered a male child. That must be the Gulab mentioned by Baba, and so the boy was named Gulab.
In 1936, Chote Khan was badly in need of money to get Gulab married. So he went to Baba and slept in the Mosque. In his dream, Baba blessed him and said, ‘If you go to Poona, you will be benefited’. So, he started off to Poona.
One Mr. Ladkar, suffering from severe piles, came to him. Chote Khan told him that he knew of a saint’s (Sai Baba’s) prescription that would cure piles. Ladkar said, ‘Give it’. Chote Khan then prepared the remedy, and that relieved the man greatly.
Ladkar went at once, and betting on horses at the races in Poona, got Rs. 1,100. Out of that, he gave Chote Khan Rs. 700, and with that money Gulab’s marriage was performed.
Above all, the action of the external and internal operates in very powerful way unseen and unnoticed.
Let us take hypnotised subjects and sleeping or dreaming subjects as best instances for exemplifying the working of this law that the external and the internal have a very close connection and that the one draw the other with it . A person is hypnotised , and though nothing at all is said to him , his body is arranged in pugilistic fashion with his fists stretched out ready for fighting and himself ready to deliver and receive attacks. Though nothing is said, the man if asked to speak , speaks fiercely and in a mood of attack. He is bellicose.
Similarly if a hypnotised patient is made to kneel down or fully prostate , and his palms are arranged in Anjali fashion , that is invoking the Grace of God , then though nothing is said, the man at once becomes humble and prayerful in mood. If asked ‘ What is this ? ” , he would say , ‘ I am praying to God”. It is the attitude of prostration and invocation that brings on the ideas of invoking God.
These may be multiplied ad infinitem, but the present instances will suffice to show that the external and the internal have a very close association , and any one who is anxious to develop his faith should see that in himself, in his surroundings, in his library , in his company , and in everything around him , the externals are always suggestive or productive of faith .
Above all , the mind must be directed to faith and how is that done ? The company that we keep ( physical) , our reading (intellectual company ) , practical details of puja, prayer , acts of service , preaching , then meditation, then yogic concentration , and above all steady habit of prayer for the growth of one’s faith and of others that one is interested in – there will work wonders, Faith is a cultivable plant and requires proper selection of field, seed , manure , and irrigation . One can develop this subject at great length .
Suffice it to say that those who are desirous of developing faith in Sai Baba , to become his Ankita children , should begin with an ardent desire to become such , to repeat that resolve to themselves time and again , often and often , and they should make use of every opportunity that advance their eligibility for becoming his ” Ankita ‘ children .
And above all the extent to which they are prepared to make sacrifices to please Baba, so that he may adopt them as Ankita children , will be a very a important factor . Make reverent parayana or daily study of the Gospel of Baba, which deal with the subject. That will change even a stony heart.
Go to https://online.sai.org.in for Online Advance Booking* for Rooms and Halls. You can have a decent and safe stay at a reasonable rate. This is managed by the Temple Management of Sai Sanasthan Trust.
Terms and conditions:-
1)Register yourself, for Regular use [else Mobile and OTP is enough for bookings, now]
a. Valid Email Id (To get confirmation letter etc)
b. Personal details, such as Name, Contact Address and
c. Contact Mobile Number(to get OTP, Acknowledgment etc)
d. One photo (Max 256 KB). Valid file formats – Jpeg, Bmp, Png, Gif, Tiff or Jpg.
e. One of the following Identification: – National Identity Card or Unique Identification Card (UID)
– Passport /Voter ID / Pan Card /Ration Card / Driver’s License or Other Identification.
2) Then, Sign in with your Login details
3) Select needed facilities- Room for FAMILY/ Friends
For online booking, Rooms will be booked before three hours prior to selected check-in time, only on availability basis. (1 or 2 day)
Devotee can check- in any time before-two-hours of specified-check-out time.
Check in time needs to specified when booking accommodation online. But Check out time for Devotee is 24 Hour.
Online booking will be open from Next day to 60 day.
Room will not be allottedfor single person (Male or female). For Singles, Hall/ Dormitory/Locker facility are available at Sai Bhakta Niwas and Sai Dharmshala, Sai Udyan and Shirdi Bus-stand, Accommodations.
In case of new couple, room will only be allotted, after verifying their marital status on valid documentation basis
Sanitation charges and extra charges per person changes according to type of room.
Devotee needs to follow steps as mentioned below when availing facility at Shirdi.
i. Report to the specified accommodation center at the specified check in time.
ii. Produce Booking acknowledgment and photo identity proof – Aadhaar card for verification to clerk. Room will not be allocated to Devotee in case he fails to produce the necessary documents.
Extension of stay may be permitted depending upon room availability for the day.
It is mandatory for Devotees to follow rules and regulations of Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi. The trust reserves the right to cancel or modify Devotee bookings.
Due to water shortage, Hot water in room will be available from 3:00 am, subject to availability
No Amount will be refunded to devotees after cancellation of Room Reservation facility.
*Direct Off line booking is also available subject to availability
Since, Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust reserves rights to change any of the terms and conditions mentioned above without prior notice, please recheck the above information’s before booking.
Devotee can call Help desk for On Line Services-02423-258956,258963; Voice support will be available from 10 am to 06 pm (IST).
Other than this time slot, mail to support@sai.org.in .
About Anima, one recalls what Baba said to Mrs. Tarkhad. of Bandra and her son when they were with him at puja time.
Baba said that he visited (by Akasagamana) in his Leghima body, their Bandra house to partake of the Naivedya, if any, offered there and that the usual naivedya (sugarcandy) had not been offered that day, a fact which he discovered by entering into that closed puja room, (which means, by the exercise of Anima power).
This fact of the omission to offer sugarcandy as naivedaya was discovered by Mr. Tarkhad only at the time of noon meal, and then he repented.
The mention of the omission of sugarcandy in the naivedya was confirmed by Mr. Tarkhad’s letter written to Shirdi and showed the truth of Baba’s visit to Bandra to that lady’s house.
There may be thousands of other cases, but this one will suffice to illustrate the points of Leghima, Anima and Akasa Gamana
"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 