"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
Baba has advised us to remember him before the senses, mind, and intellect enjoy their objects. Doing this is, in a way, an offering to Him.
The senses etc. can never remain without their objects, but if those objects are first offered to the Guru, the attachment for them will naturally vanish.
In this way, all the Vrittis (thoughts) regarding Desire, Anger, Avarice etc. should first be offered and directed to the Guru. If you follow this practice, the Lord will help you in eradicating all the Vrittis.
When, before enjoying the objects, you think that Baba is close by, a question will arise at once. Is the object fit to be enjoyed or not? Then the object that is not fit to be enjoyed will be shunned. As a result, our vicious habits or vices will disappear. Our character will improve.
Then, love for the Guru will grow and pure knowledge will sprout up. When this knowledge grows, the bondage of body – consciousness (ie we are the body) will snap and our intellect will be merged in spirit-consciousness (ie. we are the spirit). Then we shall get Bliss and contentment.
There is no difference between Guru and God. He who sees any difference in them, sees God nowhere. So leaving aside all ideas of difference, we should regard Guru and God as one,
and if we serve our Guru as stated above, Lord (God) will be certainly pleased and purifying our minds
He will give us self- realisation. To put the matter in a nut-shell, we should not enjoy any object with our senses etc. without first remembering our Guru.
All the things that we see in the universe are nothing but a play of Maya (cosmic illusion)- the creative power of the Lord. These things do not really exist. What really exists is the Real Absolute. Just as we mistake a rope of a garland or a stick for a serpent on account of darkness, we always see the phenomena, i.e. things as they outwardly appear, and not the Noumenon (Thing-in-itself ) which underlies all the visible things. Only the Sad-guru opens the eyes of our understanding. He enables us to see things in their true light and not as they appear. Let us, therefore, worship the Sad-guru and pray to him to give us the true vision, which is nothing but God-vision.
Novel Form of Worship
Hemadpant has given us a novel form of worship.
Let us, he says, use hot water in the form of tears of joy to wash the Sad-guru’s feet.
Let us besmear, His body with sandalwood-paste of pure love.
Let us cover His body with the cloth of true faith.
Let us offer eight lotuses as our eight Sattwik emotions.
Let us present fruit as our concentrated mind.
Let us apply to His head bukka (black-powder) in the form of devotion. Let us tie the waistband of Bhakti and place our head on his toes.
After decorating the Sad-guru with all jewelry in this way,
let us offer everything to Him.
We wave the chamar of devotion to ward off heat.
After such blissful worship, let us pray thus:- “Introvert our mind.
Turn it inward.
Give us discrimination between the Unreal and the Real.
Grant us non-attachment for all worldly things.
Thus enable us to get Self-realisation.
We surrender ourselves, body and soul (body-consciousness and ego).
Make our eyes Yours, so that we should never feel pleasure and pain.
If anybody placed before Him a pice or two (money), Baba purchased oil or tobacco. He was fond of tobacco, for He always smoked a bidi or Chilim (an earthen pipe). Oil was used to fuelling his Dhuni ie. Sacred fire. For Food, the Basic, HE begged, as Mendicant
After getting for Basic Luxury?
Then, some persons thought that they could not see the Saints empty-handed, and they, therefore, placed some copper coins before Baba.
If a pice was placed before Him. He used to pocket it (for the above); if it was a two pice coin, it was ‘returned’ immediately.
At further Level of Income!
Then after Baba’s fame had spread far and wide, people began to flock in numbers; and Baba began to ask Dakshina/Donation from them.
For what: a) To teach the devotees the lesson of charity and to remove their attachment to money and thus to purify their minds -(Baba said, that He had to give back hundred times more of what He received. There are many instances, in which this has happened.)
b) Giving Asking Dakshina also meant like- `Deriving lessons from the book and lodging them in the heart where Baba resides’.
At Final Level –
Baba collected a lot of money by Dakshina, He would distribute the whole amount the same day, as Charity and the next morning He would become a poor Fakir as usual.
When Baba took His Mahasamadhi, after receiving thousands and thousands of Rupees as Dakshina for about ten years, He had only a few Rupees in His possession.
“Out of the amount collected as Dakshina, Baba spent very little for His own sake, and all the rest, He distributed as charity in varying proportions to various persons”.
A person that has not overcome lust cannot see God, i.e., get God-realisation.
205. LUST conquest – NGC
Two Moslem ladies wearing veils came to take darshan of Baba at the mosque and NG Chandorkar was sitting by him. NGC tried to get up and go away.
Baba- “You had better remain. If they wish to take darshan, let them come. “
The ladies came. The older removed her veil and took darshan. Next, as the younger removed her veil, took darshan and resumed her veil, Nana, smitten with her beauty, thought to himself “Shall I have one more opportunity to see that angelic face?”, but he said nothing. Baba struck him on the thigh. Then the ladies left.
Baba- “Nana, do you know why I struck you?”
Nana: How can I hide anything from the omniscience of my guru? But I do not understand how such low thoughts should sway my mind, when I am in your immediate presence.
Baba- “You are a man after all. Are you not? The body is full of desires, which spring up as soon as a sense object approaches. But are temples with lovely and well coloured exterior scarce in the world?
When we go there, is it to admire the exterior or see the God within? When you are seeing the God in the shrine, do you care for the outside beauty of the building or for that of the image or Paramatama within? Does God remain only in temples? Is he not found in every object in the world as in temples? We are not to bother ourselves about the beauty or ugliness of the exterior, but to concentrate soley on the form taken by and revealing God.
Of course there is nothing in looking at the exterior, but as one looks at it, he must think how clever and powerful is the God that produced such a beautiful abode, how he resides therein and how nicely ornamented he is. Nana, if you had directed your thoughts to this way, you would not have had the desire to get one more look at the Moslem beauty’s face. Keep this always in mind. “
206 H V Sathe, a Settlement Officer and devotee of baba was staying at his place, Sathe wada. Out of curiosity, he wished to visit a lady devotee of Baba, whose reputation was not good. Earlier in the day, he called upon Baba.
Baba: Saheb, have you been to “Sala (School)”?
HVS: What Baba! Have you made me a Deputy collector without taking me to School?
Baba found HVS ignorant of local names and dropped the matter. Later on, HVS visited the lady who lived in a place locally known as the School.
There, in the course of talking with her, sexual thoughts were assailing him and he was in danger of a fall. Suddenly the outer door was thrown open. Baba standing at the door made gestures which evidently meant –“What ! You have come so far to your guru! And are you now descending to Hell! What excellent course!” Then Baba disappeared. HVS was saved in time by this proctor Baba. He left the Sala/School at once and never again visited that lady.
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?
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
Correct knowledge of facts connected with the lives of saints is good for the individual who knows them. It is also beneficial to society. In the long run, it promotes social unity. It encourages ethical, spiritual, and religious study and endeavor. Lives of saints provide more than information, for the reader’s brain. They offer sustenance…
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…
Nine forms or types of Devotion (Bhakti) are, viz.,
(1) Shravana (Hearing);
(2) Kirtana (Praying);
(3) Smarana (Remembering);
(4) Padasevana (resorting to the feet);
(5) Archana (Worship);
(6) Namaskara (Bowing);
(7) Dasya (Service);
(8) Sakhyatva (Friendship);
(9) Atmanivedana (surrender of the self). These are the nine types of Bhakti.
If any of these are faithfully followed, Lord Hari will be pleased and manifest Himself in the home of the devotee.
All the sadhanas, viz. Japa (vocal worship), Tapa (penance), and Yoga practice are quite useless. Studying the scriptures and expounding them are also quite useless. These activities need to be accompanied by Bhakti, i.e., devotion. Knowledge of the Vedas, or fame as a great Jnani, and mere formal Bhajan (worship) are of no avail. What is wanted is Loving Devotion.
Think of yourself as someone searching for the truth. Be anxious and eager like the seeker to collect or cultivate the nine types of devotion. Then you will attain stability and peace of mind.
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