Sraddha 
Saburi
Quarterly Newsletter
Special Punya Tithi Edition
Punya Tithi
Gyana Moolam Guru Moorthim
Pooja Moolam Guru Padam
Manthra Moolam Guru Vakhyam
Moksha Moolam Guru Kripa
Volume 2
October, 2005
Sai Mandir, USA
Nori Foundation, Inc.
Our Past
Events
Guru
Poornima is an important day for Sai devotees.
Sai Mandir started the day with Rudraabhishekam in the morning, followed
by bhajans and Aarati. There was
special prasadam distributed on that day.
In the evening Pallaki Seva was performed. There was unprecedented attendance at the temple. Nearly 1000 devotees attended and
participated in the day long celebrations.
There were soulful divine bhajans in the evening.
Varalakshmi Vratam, a very important event was celebrated at Sai
Mandir on Friday, August 12th with Kalasa pooja, followed by
Aarati. The pooja went on for an hour and half. Good number of devotees
participated followed by special prasadam.
Krishnashtami was on a Thursday.
Birth of Lord Krishna was celebrated with special pooja and Abhishekam
to Baba. This event was well attended. In the evening, bhajans
were sung by lot of devotees.
Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated with a lot of gaiety. Celebrations began with pooja to Lord Ganesh
with a lot of devotees attending the temple all day long. In the evening special bhajans dedicated to
Lord Ganesh were sung by the devotees.
On Sunday our Balvikas group reopened their classes by performing
special pooja to Lord Ganesha.
Navarathri was celebrated for nine days with various archanas,
specially Kumkuma archana, and Bhasma archana, Lalita Sahasranama Parayanam
etc. Saraswati Pooja was celebrated in
a big way with more than 60 kids participating in the pooja. In the evening lot of devotees danced to
their hearts content to the tune and rhythm of dandiyas. Vijayadasami was celebrated with all day
pooja culminating in the evening with the chanting of Mahishasura Mardhini
slokam by the devotees followed by Devi bhajans and Aarati for Mata Durga.
Special Dignitaries:
Smt. Shoba Raju
As is always the case, if Baba wishes to hear some one sing or
render bhajans, he would call them.
The melodious voice of Smt. Shoba Raju, from Hyderabad (also known as
Annamayya gana kalamani) rendering sai bhajans and a few Annamayya keertans was
one such event. Smt. Shoba Raju hearing
about the Sai temple in Baldwin came all by herself and the bhajans she sang,
were a treat to the ears. It is likely
that we may have her program again later.
Bombay Sisters:
The very famous Bombay sisters were similarly curious to see Baba
in Baldwin, their visit, though short, was very rich and rewarding for the
devotees. The famous sisters rendered a
few songs and went back with a promise to give us a melodious treat later on.
(Past events contributed by: Ramesh Tadepalli and Geeta Paranandi)
Sai-Satcharitra
Preparation
- Samadhi-Mandir - Breaking of the Brick - 72 Hours' Samadhi - Jog's Sannyas -
Baba's Nectar-like Words.
Previous Preparation
It is the
general practice amongst the Hindus that when a man is about to die, some good
religious scripture is read out to him with the object that his mind should be
withdrawn from worldly things and fixed in matters spiritual, so that his
future progress should be natural and easy. Everybody knows that when king
Parikshiti was cursed by the son of a Brahmin Rishi and was about to die after
a week, the great sage Shuka expounded to him the famous Bahagwat Puran in that
week. This practice is followed even now and Gita, Bhagawat and other sacred
books are read out to dying persons. Baba being an incarnation of God needed no
such help, but just to set an example to the people, He followed this practice.
When He knew that He was to pass away soon, He ordered one Mr.Vaze to read
Ramavijaya to Him. Mr.Vaze read the book once in the week. Then Baba asked him
to read the same again day and night and he finished the second reading in
three days. Thus eleven days passed. Then again he read for three days and was
exhausted. So Baba let him go and kept Himself quiet. He abided on His Self and
was waiting for the last moment.
Two or three
days previous, Baba had stopped His morning peregrinations and begging rounds
and sat in the Masjid. He was conscious to the last and was advising the
devotees not to lose heart. He let nobody know the exact time of His departure.
Kakasaheb Dixit and Shriman Booty were dining daily with Him in the Masjid.
That day (15th October) after arati, He asked them to go to their residence for
dining. Still a few, viz., Laxmibai Shinde, Bhagoji Shinde, Bayaji, Laxman Bala
Shimpi and Nanasaheb Nimonkar remained there. Shama was sitting down on the
steps. After giving Rs. 9/- to Laxmibai Shinde, Baba said that He did not feel
well there (in the Masjid) and that He should be taken to the Dagadi (stone)
Wada of Booty, where He would be alright. While saying these last words, He
leaned on Bayaji's body and breathed His last. Bhagoji noticed that His
breathing had stopped and he immediately told this to Nanasaheb Nimonkar who
was sitting below. Nanasaheb brought some water and poured it in Baba's mouth.
It came out. Then he cried out loudly 'Oh Deva.' Baba seemed just to open His
eyes and say 'Ah' in a low tone. But it soon became evident that Baba had left
His body for good.
The news of
Baba's passing away spread like a wild fire in the village of Shirdi and all
people, men, women and children ran to the Masjid and began to mourn this loss
in various ways. Some cried out loudly, some wallowed on in the streets and
some fell down senseless. Tears ran down from the eyes of all and every one was
smitten with sorrow.
Some people
started remembering the words of Sai Baba.
Somebody said that Maharaj (Sai Baba) told His devotees that in time to
come. He would appear as a lad of eight years. These are the words of a saint
and hence nobody should take doubt about them; because in the Krishna Avatar,
Chakrapani (Lord Vishnu) performed this very deed. Krishna appeared before
Dewaki in the prison as a lad of eight years, who had bright complexion and who
wielded weapons in His four arms. In that incarnation He (Lord Krishna)
lightened the burden of the earth. This incarnation (Sai Baba) was for the
uplift of His devotees. Then where is the reason for doubt? The ways of the
saints are really inscrutable. This contact of Sai Baba with His devotees is
not only for one generation; but it is there for the last seventy two
generations. Generating such ties of love, it appears that Maharaj (Sai Baba)
has gone for tour and the devotees had a firm belief that He will return soon.
Then the
question arose - How to dispose off Baba's body? Some (Mahomedans) said that
the body should be interred in an open space and a tomb built over it. Even
Khushalchand and Amir Shakkar shared this opinion. But Ramachandra Patil, the
village officer said to the villagers with a firm and determined voice, thought
is not acceptable to us. Baba's body should be nowhere placed except in the Wada.
Thus people were divided on this point and discussion regarding this point went
on for 36 hours.
On Wednesday
morning Baba appeared to Laxman Mama Joshi in his dream and drawing him by His
hand said - up soon; Bapusaheb thinks that I am dead and so he won't come; you
do the worship and the Kakad (morning) arati.
Laxman Mama was the village astrologer and was the maternal uncle of
Shama. He was an orthodox Brahmin and daily first worshipped Baba in the
morning and then all the village deities. He had full faith in Baba. After the
vision he came with all the pooja materials and not minding the protests of the
moulvis, did the Pooja and the Kakad arati with all due formalities and went
away. Then at noon Bapusaheb Jog came with all others and went through the
noon-arati ceremony as usual. After paying due respect to Baba's words the
people decided to place His body in the Wada and started digging the central
portion there. In the evening of Tuesday the Sub- Inspector came from Rahata
and others from other places turned up and they all agreed to the proposal.
Next morning Amirbhai came from Bombay and the Mamlatdar from Kopergaon. The
people seemed divided in their opinion. Some insisted on interring His body in
the open field. The Mamlatdar therefore took a general plebiscite and found
that the proposal to use the Wada secured double the number of votes. He,
however, wanted to refer the matter to the Collector and Kakasaheb Dixit got
himself ready to go to Ahmednagar. In the meanwhile, by Baba's inspiration
there was a change in the opinion of the other people and all the people
unanimously voted for the proposal. On Wednesday evening Baba's body was taken
in procession and brought to the Wada and was interred there with due
formalities in the garbha, i.e., the central portion reserved for Murlidhar. In
fact Baba became the Murlidhar and the Wada became a temple and a holy shrine,
where so many devotees went and are going now to find rest and peace. All the
obsequies of Baba were duly performed by Balasaheb Bhate and Upasani, a great
devotee of Baba.
It may be
noted here that, as observed by Professor Narke, Baba's body did not get stiff
though it was exposed for 36 hours, and that all the limbs were elastic and
that His Kafni could be taken out without being torn to pieces.
Breaking of the Brick
Some days
before Baba's departure, there occurred an ominous sign foreboding the event.
There was, in the Masjid an old brick on which Baba rested His hand and sat. At
night time He leaned against it and had His asan. This went on for many years.
One day, during Baba's absence, a boy who was sweeping the floor, took it up in
his hand, and unfortunately it slipped from thence fell down broken into two
pieces. When Baba came to know about this, He bemoaned its loss, crying - is
not the brick but my fate that has been broken into pieces. It was My life-long
companion, with it I always meditated on the Self, it was as dear to Me as My
life, it has left Me today. Some may raise here a question - should Baba
express this sorrow for such an inanimate thing as a brick? To this Hemadpant
replies that saints incarnate in this world with the express mission of saving
the poor helpless people, and when they embody themselves and mix and act with
the people, they act like them, i.e., outwardly laugh, play and cry like all
other people, but inwardly they are wide awake to their duties and mission.
72 Hours' Samadhi
Thirty two
years before this, i.e., in 1886 A.D., Baba made an attempt to cross the border
line. On a Margashirsha Pournima (Full moon) day, Baba suffered from a severe
attack of asthma. To get rid of it Baba decided to take His prana high up and
go into samadhi. He said to Bhagat Mhalasapti - My body for three days. If I
return, it will be alright; if I do not, bury my body in that open land
(pointing to it) and fix two flags there as a mark. Saying this, Baba fell down
at about 10 P.M. His breathing stopped, as well as His pulse. It seemed as if
His prana left the body. All the people including the villagers came there and
wanted to hold an inquest and bury the body in the place pointed by Baba. But
Mhalasapati prevented this. With Baba's body on his lap he sat full three days
guarding it. After three days passed, Baba showed signs of life at 3 A.M. His
breathing commenced, the abdomen began to move. His eyes opened and stretching
His limbs, Baba returned to consciousness (life) again.
From this and
other accounts, let the readers consider whether Sai Baba was the three and a
half cubits' body that He occupied for some years and that He left thereafter
or He was the Self inside. The body, composed of the five elements is
perishable and transient, but the Self within is the thing - Absolute Reality
which is immortal and intransient. The pure Being, Consciousness or Brahma, the
Ruler and Controller of the senses and mind is the thing Sai. This pervades all
things in the universe and there is no space without it. For fulfilling His
mission He assumed the body and after it was fulfilled, He threw away the body
(the finite aspect), and assumed His infinite aspect. Sai ever lives, as also
the previous Incarnation of God Datta, Shri Narsimha Saraswati of Ganagapur.
His Passing away is only an outward aspect, but really He pervades all animate
and inanimate things and is their Inner Controller and Ruler. This can be, and
is even now experienced by many who surrender themselves completely to Him and
worship Him with whole-hearted devotion.
Though it is
not possible for us to see Baba's form now, still if we go to Shirdi, we shall
find His beautiful life-like portrait adorning the masjid. This has been drawn
by Shamrao Jaykar, a famous artist and well-known devotee of Baba. To an
imaginative and devout spectator this portrait can give even to-day the
satisfaction of taking Baba's darshana. Though Baba has no body now, He lives
there and everywhere, and will effect the welfare of the devotees even now as
He was doing before when He was embodied. Saints like Baba never die, though
they look like men, they are in reality God Himself.
Bapusaheb Jog's Sannyas
Hemadpant
closes this chapter with the account of Jog's sannyas. Sakharam Hari alias
Bapusaheb Jog was the uncle of the famous Varkari Vishnubuva Jog of Poona.
After his retirement from Govt. Service (He was a Supervisor in the P.W. Department)
in 1909 A.D., he came and lived in Shirdi with his wife. He had no issue. Both
husband and wife loved Baba and spent all their time in worshipping and serving
Baba. After Megha's death, Bapusaheb daily did the arati ceremony in the Masjid
and Chavadi till Baba's maha-samadhi. He was also entrusted with the work of
reading and explaining Jnaneshwari and Ekanathi Bhagawat in Sathe's Wada to the
audience. After serving for many years, Jog asked Baba - have served you so
long, my mind is not yet calm and composed, how is it that my contact with
Saints has not improved me? When will You bless me?- Hearing the Bhakta's
prayer Baba replied - due time your bad actions (their fruit or result) will be
destroyed, your merits and demerits will be reduced to ashes, and I shall
consider you blessed, when you will renounce all attachments, conquer lust and
palate, and getting rid of all impediments, serve God whole-heartedly and
resort to the begging bowl (accept sannyas).After some time, Baba's words came
true. His wife predeceased him and as he had no other attachment, he became
free and accepted sannyas before his death and realized the goal of his life.
Baba's Nectar-like words
The kind and
merciful Sai Baba, said many a time the following sweet words in the Masjid -
who loves Me most, always sees Me. The whole world is desolate to him without
Me, he tells no stories but Mine. He ceaselessly meditates upon Me and always
chants My name. I feel indebted to him who surrenders himself completely to Me
and ever remembers Me. I shall repay his debt by giving him salvation
(self-realization). I am dependent on him who thinks and hungers after Me and
who does not eat anything without first offering it to Me. He who thus comes to
Me, becomes one with Me, just as a river gets to the sea and becomes merged
(one) with it. So leaving out pride and egoism and with no trace of them, you
should surrender yourself to Me Who am seated in your heart.
Who is this ME?
Sai Baba
expounded many a time Who this ME (or I) is. He said need not go far or
anywhere in search of Me. Barring your name and form, there exists in you, as
well as in all beings, a sense of Being or Consciousness of Existence. That is
Myself. Knowing this, you see Me inside yourself, as well as in all beings. If
you practice this, you will realize all-pervasiveness, and thus attain oneness
with Me.
Hemadpant,
therefore, makes a bow to the readers and requests them humbly and lovingly
that they should love and respect all Gods, saints and devotees. Has not Baba
often said who carps and cavils at others, pierces Me in the heart and injures
Me, but he that suffers and endures, pleases Me most. Baba thus pervades all
beings and creatures and besets them on all sides. He likes nothing but love to
all beings. Such nectar, pure auspicious ambrosia always flowed from Baba's
lips. He therefore, concludes - Those who lovingly sing Baba's fame and those
who hear the same with devotion, both become one with Sai. Bow to Shri Sai Peace Be to All
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C o m m u n i t y S p i r i t
Bharatanatyam - instruction by Mrs.
Satya Pradeep Saturday 9:30 to 10:30
AM. Children of all ages are welcome. To enroll, please call the temple, or contact Smt. Satya Pradeep directly at (516) 783-1846.
Music Classes - instruction by Mrs.
Savithri Ramanand. Saturday from 10.30
to 11.30 A.M. To enroll, please call
the temple or contact Mrs. Savithri
Ramanand directly at (718) 479-3192
Sai
Mandir Conducts Free Bal Vikas Classes for Children Age 5 and Up. For more information, please call the temple
or Call Mrs. Geeta Paranandi at 516-565-9846.
SAT Classes
are conducted by the SAI MANDIR on Sundays.
Please call
Anu Mago for further information at 516-223-1852.
Meditation Classes - Mr.
Satish Malladi Saturday 8.00 A.M. to 9.00 A.M.
To enroll, please call the
temple or contact Mr. Satish Malladi directly at
(516) -931-1189.
Hindi Classes by Anju and
Avinash Jhawar and Alpana and Alok Jain.
To enroll, please call the temple or contact them directly at
516-623-3015 or 516-868-8356.
U P C O M I N G E V E N
T S
Saturday October 29th Deepavali Celebrations
Sunday October 30th
Monday October 31st
Tuesday November 1st
Sunday, November 6th Bal Vikas Group celebrates
Deepavali
Tuesday, November 15th Kartika
Poornima, Samoohika Satyanarayana Pooja
Wednesday, November 23rd Satya
Sai Babas Birthday Celebrations
Thursday,
November 24th Thanksgiving
Celebrations
Sunday,
December 11th Mukkoti
Ekadasi
Thursday,
December 15th Datta
Jayanti
Sunday,
December 25th Christmas
Celebrations
Saturday ,
December 31st New
Years Eve Celebrations
Sunday,
January 1st New
Year Celebrations
Babas Sayings
Why fear when I am
here?
Stay by me and keep
quiet. I will do the rest.
Surrender completely to
God. I will take you to the end.
What is our duty? To behave properly. That is enough.
Those who think that Baba is only in Shirdi have
totally failed to know
me.
Do not kick against the
pricks of life.
I stay by the side of
whoever repeats my name.
If anyone offends you,
do not return tit for tat.
Be contented and
cheerful with what comes.
Samadhi Mandir
HAPPINESS AND PEACE OF MIND
DR. Ram Mohan Rao Nori
All People
are anxious to have happiness and peace of mind. Every human being desperately
seeks happiness by constantly attempting to satisfy insatiable desires. The
more one gets the desired things the more he or she wants and thinks more
things a re needed. Thus every person wants to have more expansive houses, cars
more expensive, and stylish, vacations more exotic etc. Alas!! People do not
know that true (lasting) happiness is more an inside job connected with the
state of mind. When we rely on our inner feelings and actions we find happiness
is with us on a more regular and consistent basis. Otherwise we mistake that
temporary joy we feel on acquiring the desired thing or situation as happiness.
Fleeting (temporary) joys and sorrows are alternately experienced by all human
beings
Path
to true happiness: You
cannot experience true happiness unless the causes for misery or sorrow are
known and are overcome. The ultimate reason is the mental restlessness
(agitation) caused by likes and dislikes for things and situations and mental
vibrations induced by insatiable ego. One who likes Western music, Indian classical
music gives agitated mental feeling and vise-versa. A person enjoying natures
beauty becomes suddenly miserable on receiving a bad news. At a dinner table
full of variety of tasteful foods a well to do couple may quarrel due to clash
of egos, causing mental disturbances resulting in grief and unhappiness. Money and objects of possession cannot
themselves bestow happiness. They may at the most provide favorable
environment. Economists, scientists, administrators and other material analysts
realize economic prosperity alone cannot measure and promote true happiness in
the community. Wise People with
spiritual knowledge have thoroughly examined the root causes of unhappiness and
miseries in the world. They have identified the faculties and pre-requisites essential
for sustainable (permanent) happiness. .
Essential
Nature of Human Being: A human being is essentially consciousness (I, self, athma)
which in simple terms can be understood as awareness of existence and bliss
(infinite happiness). When the mind is at rest (unwavering, serene and
tranquil) a person identifies his true nature and spontaneously experiences
happiness. When the mind is absorbed in the thing or the situation it likes it
becomes quiet, steady and balanced. At that moment the flash of bliss is
experienced as happiness. He will not be conscious of time, which is
interrelated with vibrating mind. Thus a person who is steady and concentrated
mind can have control over time. Scientist experiences happiness when absorbed
in his research work. A professional who discharges his duties with dedication
and concentration feels happy. In fact in any field of activity people with
steady, tranquil and balanced mind will be highly successful and happy. On the
other hand passionate people having bad qualities of lust, greed, anger, envy,
etc which disturb the mind will always be unhappy. Mind becomes steady and calm
in deep sleep and thereby a person experiences a sense of happiness. Thus, true
happiness is a balanced mental state of perfect satisfaction and peace.
Peace
of mind is sustained happiness: Peace
of mind is a state of balanced, stable and calm mind undisturbed by joy and
sorrow, likes and dislikes and pleasant or unpleasant environment. Unlike a
passionate person one having peace of mind will be truthful, cheerful,
compassionate, forgiving, egoless and endowed with righteousness and sharp
intellect. Such a person will always find absolute unity of existence (Oneness
of God) amidst diverse and multiple objects of creation. Through spiritual
knowledge one can develop divine love and pure devotion, which are essential
for peace. Devotion to God removes bad
mental qualities and bestows virtuous qualities. God is all merciful. . He,
although basically formless and all pervasive, manifests from time to time in
form to protect Dharma and the devotees in spiritual path. He always protects
and guides the devotees directly moving with them as avatar like Shirdi Sai
Baba as well as through Idols which are symbols of His all pervading
omnipotence.. Without the grace of God it is impossible in this ever vibrating
and changing world to have sustained happiness and peace.
Guru
Poornima Celebrations
Smt. Shobha
Raju rendering soulful devotional songs
Photographs
by: Bala S. Nori
Dear Sai Devotee:
I am extremely pleased to share
with you that we have successfully completed the phase I of Sai Mandirs
project. The installation of life
size statue of Baba, an exact replica of the one at Shirdi in India which is
carved by the same family the world-renowned Pembert artisans from India has
been completed. This mega Sai Mandir
project is blessed by all divine personalities at home including Bhagawan Sri
Satya Sai Baba, Sri. Viswayogi Viswamji Maharaj , Swami Dayananda Saraswathi
and other spiritual exponents. The
Mandir was inaugurated on July 4th 2002 with all the religious
ceremonies. Since the inauguration, the
Aarathis, Abhishekams and Bhajans are conducted regularly by our Mandir
priest. Since its opening, over three
thousand devotees have regularly visited our Mandir to take blessings from
Baba.
An adjacent building was also acquired at the same time and was
also inaugurated on July 4th 2002 for Mandirs community and
cultural activities. Yoga, Meditation and Bharata Natyam classes are conducted
regularly at the center on Saturday and Sundays. Over seventy children
regularly attend our Mandirs free Balavikas classes on Sundays. A number of devotees all over the world
visit our website www.saimandirusa.org regularly.
We have planned and initiated a
phase II as outlined below and also bringing Babas souvenir to raise funds for
this Phase II project
1. Renovation and construction of outside Mandir and Raja
Gopuram at a project cost of one hundred and fifty thousand (150,000) dollars.
2. Renovation and extension of community and cultural center
at an estimated project cost of thirty thousand (30,000) dollars.
I would like to request you to
participate in this Mandir expansion project by sharing this information with
your family and friends.
May Babas Blessing be with you
and your family always.
Dr. D. Nori
Sai
Mandir
I/we will give a
tax-deductible donation for the above project $ _________ Last Name: _______________________First Name(s):__________________________ Address:
__________________________________________________________________ Names of all contributors will be printed in Babas souvenir
booklet.
SPONSORSHIP FORM:
Name:
..
Address:..
State:
City:
Phone:
Email:
Gotram:
..Nakshatram:
..
PUJA/SEVA SPONSORSHIPS:
Grand Patron $1,001.00
Pujas (Pujas & Anna Dana) $ 501.00
Babas weekly Seva $ 301.00
Babas Weekly Flowers & Garlands $
101.00
Rudra
Abhishekam $
51.00
Asthotram $
11.00
Satyanarayana
Vratam $ 51.00
Sai
Vratam $
51.00
Navagraha
Puja $
51.00
Vahana
Puja $
25.00
Barasala (naming Ceremony) $ 51.00
Annaprasana $
51.00
Nakshatra Santi Japam $25.00
Dhuni Puja $101.00
Pallaki Seva $501.00
Donation Towards
. $
Total:
$
I cannot attend the temple function, please send Prasadam
to my address.
Make
checks payable to Sai Mandir USA.
Donations to the temple are tax deductible.
May Baba Shower his blessings on you and your family.
Paypal system is available for your convenience. Please visit our website at www.saimandirusa.org
SAI RAM