Quarterly Newsletter
Special Rama Navami Edition
Rama Navami
Ramaya Rama Bhadraya Ramachandraya Vedase
Raghunathaya Nathaya Seetaya Pataye Namha
Volume 4
April , 2006
Sai Mandir, USA
Nori Foundation, Inc.
Sai Sat Charitha
Transformation of Urus into Rama-Navami Festival
Things were going on in this way and the fair was gradually
increasing in importance till 1912 A.D.,
when change took place; That year one devotee, Mr. Krishnarao Jageshwar
Bhisma (the author of the pamphlet ‘Sai Sagunopasana’), came for the fair with
Dadasaheb Khaparde of Amraoti, and was staying on the previous day in the Dixit
Wada. While he was lying on the verandah, and while Mr. Laxmanrao alias Kaka
Mahajani, was going down with Puja materials to the Masjid, a new thought arose
in his mind and he accosted the latter thus - There is some providential
arrangement in the fact that the Urus or fair is celebrated in Shirdi on the Rama-Navami day; this day is very
dear to all the Hindus; then why not begin the Rama-Navami Festival - the celebration of the birth of Shri Rama here on
this day?
Kaka
Mahajani liked the idea, and it was arranged to get Baba’s permission in this
matter. The main difficulty was how to secure a Haridas, who would perform
‘Kirtan’ and sing the glories of the Lord on the occasion. But Bhishma solved
the difficulty, by saying that his ‘Rama Akhyan’ (composition on Rama’s birth)
was ready, and he would do the ‘Kirtan’ himself, while Kaka Mahajani should
play on the harmonium. It was also arranged to get the ‘Sunthavada’
(ginger-powder mixed with sugar) as Prasad prepared by Radha-Krishna Mai. So
they immediately went to the Masjid to get Baba’s permission. Baba, who knew
all things and what was passing there, asked Mahajani, as to what was going on
in the Wada. Being rather perturbed, Mahajani could not catch the purport of
the question and remained silent. Then Baba asked Bhishma, what he had to say.
He explained the idea of celebrating Rama-Navami festival, and asked for Baba’s permission and Baba gladly
gave it. All rejoiced and made preparations for the Jayanti-festival.
Next day,
the Masjid was decorated with buntings etc., a cradle was supplied by
Radha-Krishna Mai, and placed in front of Baba’s seat and the proceedings
started. Bhishma stood up for Kirtan and Mahajani played on the harmonium. Sai
Baba sent a man to call Mahajani. He was hesitating to, doubt whether Baba
would allow the festival to go on; but when he went to Baba, the latter asked
him as to what was going on and why the cradle was placed there. He answered
that the Rama-Navami festival had commenced, and the cradle was put on for that
purpose. Then Baba took a garland from the ‘Nimbar’ (nitche), and placed it
round his neck and sent another garland for Bhishma. Then commenced the Kirtan.
When it came to a close, pound sounds of "Victory to Rama" went up;
and Gulal (red - powder) was thrown up all round, amidst band and music.
Everybody
was overjoyed, when suddenly roaring was heard. The red-powder thrown
promiscuously all round, went up, somehow entered Baba’s eyes. Baba got wild
and began to scold and abuse loudly. People got frightened by this scene and
took to their heels. Those intimate devotees, who knew Baba well, took these
scoldings and outpourings of Baba, as blessings in disguise. They thought that
when Rama was born, it was proper for Baba to get wild and enraged to kill
Ravana; and his demons, in the form of egoism and wicked thoughts etc. Besides
they knew, that whenever a new
thing was
undertaken at Shirdi, it was usual with Baba to get wild and angry, and so they
kept quiet. Radha-Krishna Mai was rather afraid; and thought that Baba might
break her cradle, and she asked Mahajani to get the cradle back. When he went
to loosen and unfasten the cradle, Baba went to him, and asked him not to
remove it. Then after some time, Baba became calm, and that day’s programme,
including Mahapuja and Arati was finished. Later on, Mr. Mahajani asked Baba,
for permission to remove the cradle, Baba refused the same saying, that the
festival was not yet finished.
Next day,
another ‘Kirtan’ and Gopal-Kala ceremony (an earthern pot containing parched
rice mixed with curds is hung, only to be broken after the ‘Kirtan’, and the
contents distributed to all, as was done by Lord Krishna amongst His cow-herd
(friends), were performed, and then Baba allowed the cradle to be removed.
While the Rama-Navami festival was thus going on, the procession, of the two flags
by day and that of the ‘Sandal’ by night, went off with the usual pomp and
show. From this time onwards, the ‘Urus of Baba’ was transformed into the Rama-Navami festival.
From next
year (1913), the items in the programme of Rama-Navami began to increase. Radha-Krishna Mai started a ‘Nama-Saptah’
(singing the glory of God’s name continuously day and night for seven days),
from 1st of Chaitra, For this, all devotees took part by turns, and she also
joined it, sometimes early in the morning. As Rama-Navami Festival is celebrated in many places all over the country,
the difficulty of getting a Haridas was felt again. But 5 or 6 days before the
festival, Mahajani met accidentally Balabuva Mali, who was known as modern
Tukaram, and got him to do the ‘Kirtan’ that year. The next year (1914),
another Balabuva Satarkar of Brihadsiddha Kavate, District Satara, could not
act as a Haridas in his own town, as plague was prevailing in his town, and so
he came to Shirdi; With Baba’s permission, which was secured through Kakasaheb
Dixit, he did the Kirtan; and was sufficiently recompensed for his labour. The
difficulty of getting a new Haridas every year was finally solved from 1914 by
Sai Baba, as He entrusted this function to Das Ganu Maharaj permanently, and
since that time, he has been successfully and creditably conducting that
function uptill now.
Since 1912,
this festival began to grow gradually year by year. From the 8th to 12th of
Chaitra, Shirdi looked like a bee-hive of men. Shops began to increase.
Celebrated wrestlers took part in wrestling bouts. Feeding of the poor was done
on a grander scale. Hard work and sincere efforts of Radha-Krishna Mai turned
Shirdi into a Sansthan (State). Paraphernalia increased. A beautiful horse, a
palanquin, chariot and many silver things, pots, buckets, pictures, mirrors
etc. were presented. Elephants were also sent for the procession. Though all
this paraphernalia increased enormously, Sai Baba ignored all these things, and
maintained His simplicity as before. It is to be noted that both the Hindus and
Mahomedans have been working in unison in both the processions, and during the
entire festival, there has been no hitch or quarrel between them at all so far.
First about 5000-7000 people used to collect, but that figure went up to 75000
in some years; still there was no outbreak of any epidemic or any riots worth
the name during so many past years.
The Chanting Of Rama's Name
"It is good to utter the name of Rama with full understanding that
it signifies.
But even without that understanding, the chanting of the name has
the power
to destroy all sins. We must learn to chant the sweet name of Rama
with a
pure, unsullied heart, in a
spirit of selfless devotion. In the mind of man
dwell deities representing the moon and the sun. Intelligence is
endowed by
the sun. However, two kinds of birds have got into the mind. One
bird fosters
the sense of 'I' and 'Mine' and fills the mind with ego. This is a
destructive
force. The second bird fosters the feeling of freedom from
attachment
and hatred. It signifies the power of the sun in the mind. Rama,
who belongs
to the solar race, adhered to the latter path."
Sathya Sai Baba’s Divine Discourse on
Ramanavami April, 2001
Rama exemplified three kinds of righteous
behaviour (Dharma), namely, the Dharmas relating to 1) the individual 2) the
family and 3) society. To uphold these three-fold Dharma, Divinity manifested
in a triangular flow, in the form of the Trimurtis (the Triune form). The
Ramayana manifested to elaborate the human values.
The Ramayana has very subtle truths embedded in
it. The epic, first of all, expounds the duties of the individual. In the
everyday world, any person's form is termed as the individual. The duties of
the individual taught by Ramayana are not relating to this external form of the
individual. The Unmanifest, immanent and hidden human values are the essence of
the Ramayana. The inner reality and the divinity resident in the heart
constitute the true individuality. Individual does not mean the form; the
individual in action is the true individual. Rama was exemplifying such individual
values to humanity. To uphold the promise of his father, He went through the
inconveniences of forest life, but He did not look on these hardships as
hardships. In this way, He upheld His family traditions also. It is well known
that the scions of the Ikshvaku family do not swerve from their promises. Under
any circumstances, to uphold the values of one's parents, relatives, wife and
children constitutes this three-fold Dharma.
Chant the Name of Rama wholeheartedly. Install
Him in your heart and sanctify your lives. Rama is present in every heart in
the form of the Atma. That is why, He is known as Atma Rama. Atma is changeless
and that is your true form. Develop the faith that you are Brahma (Aham
Brahmasmi).
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Upcoming Events
Monday, May 1st Special Baba Function
Monday , May 22nd Hanuman Jayanthi
Monday, July 10th Guru Poornima
Sai Mandir has started
Telugu classes for children. There are
already 15 children enrolled in the class.
It was started off very auspiciously by our priest with a special
“Arambha Pooja.” Those who are
interested, please call our priest at 516-867-8008 or Geeta Paranandi at 516-
565-9846.
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We
offer various other classes
We also offer the
following classes and for further information, you can contact the
teachers at the telephone
numbers given below.
Bal Vikas - Mrs. Geeta Paranandi 516-565-9846
Music Classes - Smt.
Savithri Ramanand 718-479-3192
Dance Classes - Smt.
Sathya Pradeep 516-681-2048
Hindi Classes - Anju/Avinash
Jhawar 516-623-3015
Alpana/Alok Jain 516-868-8356
Telugu Classes - Mrs.
Haritha Chintarlapalli 631-587-0596
Mrs.
Suryakumari Basavaraju 516-644-5789
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We Conduct Food Drive
Every first Thursday of the Month, all the fruits
collected on this day are given to the
Homeless at Interfaith Nutrition Inn Network in Hempstead.
If anybody has any experience of Baba’s miracles,
please submit it and we will include it in this newsletter. E-mail your experience to geetajee@aol.com.
Past
Events
