SAAYEESHWARYA VIDHMAHE,
SATHYA DEVAAYA DHEEMAHI,
THANNAHSSARVAH PRACHODAYAATH

We know this Sai is Supreme Divinity incarnate.
We meditate on this God of Truth.
May this Almighty Personality lead us
on the path of total liberation.

Quarterly Newsletter
Volume 6

November 2006

Nori Foundation Inc.

Sai Baba's parents

"In olden days, it was a common practice among the women of (India) to perform the sacred ritual of Sathyanarayana Vratam, on every full moon day. Likewise, mother Easwaramma used to perform Sathya Narayana Vratam every full moon day in the company of Karanam Subbamma, who was her neighbor. Karanam Subbamma would often tell Easwaramma, "You are performing Sathya Narayana Vratam. With His blessings, you will bear a son. I want you to name him Sathya Narayana." On a particular full moon day, Easwaramma did not have food until very late in the afternoon, since she was participating in the Sathya Narayana Vratam being performed in Subbamma's house. The family members, including her husband Pedda Venkama Raju, were very much upset to see her remain without food for such a long time. Pedda Venkama Raju argued that there was no need to observe such severe austerities. But Easwaramma was determined. She told them not to wait for her, saying, "I am not at all hungry. Sathya Narayana Vratam is more important for me than food."

After the ritual was completed, Subbamma brought prasadam for Easwaramma. Only after partaking of the prasadam did Easwaramma have her food that day. Women in those days used to perform such rituals with all sincerity and devotion. Only after partaking of prasadam could Easwaramma conceive. Yad Bhavam Tad Bhavati (as is the feeling, so is the result). Some people have faith in scriptural injunctions and adhere to them with earnestness, whereas some others ignore them. Easwaramma was the one who followed the injunctions strictly. Only after performing the Vratam and partaking of the prasadam would she commence her household chores. She was unlettered. She had unflinching faith in God.

During the seventh month of her pregnancy, one day Subbamma told her, "Easwaramma, the child in your womb is safe due only to the grace of Lord Sathya Narayana." She extracted a promise from her that the child would be named Sathya Narayana. The mother of Pedda Venkama Raju was also a great devotee of the Lord. She too was of the opinion that the child should be named after Lord Sathya Narayana.

Prior to the birth of the child, a very significant incident took place. Puttaparthi was then a tiny hamlet. In the centre was a well from which people would draw water. One day Easwaramma was fetching water from the well. All of a sudden, she saw a white luminous light, emerging like lightning from the sky, entering her womb. There was a sudden gust of wind. Subbamma, who came out of her house at that time, saw the light entering the womb of Easwaramma. Till this day, I have not revealed this to anyone. I am disclosing this today so that you may understand the significance associated with the advent of the Avatar. A day prior to this, as Pedda Venkama Raju was passing in front of Subbamma's house; she called him inside and told him, "Venkama Raju, tomorrow when the child is born, name him as Sathya Narayana."

Sathya Sai Baba, Sanathana Sarathi, 11/96, page 306

Avatar of 3 SAI's

Shirdi Sai Baba

"Thrice will I take birth in your kula to atone for the wrong that my consort and I have done unto you" said Lord Shiva to Bharadwaja Muni. The Muni had gone to Shivalok seeking audience with the Lord. Despite having waited 3 days and nights, he had been neglected by Lord Shiva and Parvati who continued to be absorbed in their cosmic dance. Feeling slighted, Bharadwaja Muni stalked away in anger but, after a few steps, he fell to the ground with a paralytic stroke. The fall attracted the attention of Lord Shiva and Parvati who then rushed to his aide.

In His first Avatar, Lord Shiva came as the son of Gangabhavadya and Devagiri Amma, a poor old couple in the village of Pathri in Maharashtra-(India). In this manifestation, the world knew him as Shirdi Sai. Sri Shirdi Sai Baba, the first Avatar in the Sai Trinity was born on September 27, 1836 in a forest to a poor, simple couple from the village of Pathri. Shirdi was, at the time, just a small village near Kopergaon in Maharashtra. It has now become a place of pilgrimage because Sai Baba spent his life there. Shirdi Sai lived in Shirdi up to the Dussehra of 1918. Hemadpant in his SAI SATCHARITA, has recorded the experience of euphoric devotees in Shirdi as they served their Lord who, in turn, showered them with His blessings and His love as He led them on the spiritual path of self-less service and devotion. On Dussehra day of 1918, Shirdi Baba cast off his mortal coil and took Mahasamadhi to save the life of His most beloved devotee Tatya Patil.

Sathya Sai Baba

Shirdi Sai, in other words Lord Shiva, in keeping with his promise given to Bharadwaja Muni in the hoary past, took His second Avatar when He, along with His consort-Parvati-manifested himself as Satya Narayana Raju - son of Pedda Venkappa Raju and his wife Easvaramma of Puttaparthi on 23^rd November, 1926.The world knows Shirdi Sai today as Sathya Sai Baba. The sleepy village of Puttaparthi of district Ananthapur in Andhra Pradesh is well on its way to becoming the hub of the world. Millions upon millions of devotees flock from all over the world to seek the Darshan and Blessings of the Yugavatar or the Avatar of the Age. Many of these millions have recognized that Sathya Sai Baba is not just the small saffron clad figure with fuzzy hair that they can see, their personal experiences have shown them that denial of his divinity is supreme stupidity.

Prema Sai Baba

Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai has chosen to reveal that sometime in the second quarter of the 21st Century will come the third Sai Avatar as PREMA SAI (which will be the Parvati or the Shakti Avatar) after Sathya Sai casts off his mortal coil when he has completed the task he has assigned himself. The third Sai Form who is to come after Bhagawan Sathya Sai Baba is Prema Sai. The Sai Trinity refers to Shirdi Sai- Satya Sai- Prema Sai. The former Shirdi Sai is the present Sathya Sai."

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Pay a visit to the Geeta Mandir.

The idols truly look life like .

We encourage you to take

Lord Krishna’s Blessings!

Every Last Tuesday of the month!

Sai Mandir has started a new and exciting

program for the adults.

We will be addressing social, cultural,

spiritual and medical well being issues.

BHAGAWAN'S SPEECH ON SHIRIDI SAI BABA

Speaking on 28th September, 1990; Sri Sathya Sai of Parthi (Prasanthi Nilayam-Puttaparthi) revealed that 28th September 1835 was the birthday of SRI SHIRIDI SAI BABA; He added, in the former Nizam's dominions there was a remote village called PATHRI. In that village there were a couple named GANGABHARADYA and DEVAGIRI Amma. They were grieving over their lack of children. In answer to their prayers, a son was born to them on September 28th, 1835. That child was SAI BABA, who completed His Avatar on VIJAYADASMI day in 1918. The life span of Shirdi SAI Avatar was therefore about 83 years. The SUFI FAKIR, who picked up the infant SAI BABA, looked after him for four years, up to 1839. The fakir's wife then handed over the boy to Venkusa, a Hindu Scholar and GURU near her house. Sri Shirdi Sai Baba stayed in VENKUSA'S ASHRAM for 12 years from 1839 to 1851 and left for SHIRIDI in 1851. He wandered from place to place and then joined Chandu Patel’s brother’s son’s marriage party and reached Shirdi again in the year 1858.

Sri Shirdi Sai Baba stayed there till the end of the AVAATARIC MISSION in 1918: MAHALASAPATHY was the goldsmith temple priest of the Kanddoba temple in Shirdi who first invited SRI SAI BABA into the temple saying 'AYIYE SAI!' -Come in SAI - and that was how the 'SAI' word came into being. SRI SHIRDI SAI BABA lived all his life at SHIRDI in the dilapidated masjid. Dwarkamayee at SHIRIDI was a place where a 'fire' dhuni burned day and night; there was a Neem Plant opposite this Dwarkamayyee where BABA used to sit. A unique miraculous event in SHIRDI SAI BABA'S life was HIS leaving his physical body in 1886 and returning to it three days later. Mahalsapathy protected the body during this period. Both Sai's perform unimaginable miracles; - curing the sick, traveling through space and going to the aid of their devotees in response to the call; materializations of objects from no-where with a mere wave of the Divine Hand.

SHIRDI SAI BABA told Smt. Sharada Devi (Pedda Bottu- Gowri) was born on 8/8/1888; at 10A.M. to Smt. Mantthrapragada Ramalaksmi Devi and Sri Venkata Narasimha Rao, residents of Hyderabad who after marriage moved with her husband and settled down in Shirdi; told her

“I will tell you something, but before that you should hold my feet and promise me not to tell this to anyone." She did as she was told by Shirdi Sai. Baba then said, “Gouri, I will appear in Andhra with the same name of Sai Baba but in another Avatar.

Then again you will come to me. I will keep you with me and will give you joy." her joy was unlimited, she asked,” Should I not reveal this fact to any-body?" BABA confirmed, "No, you alone will see my second Avatar, none else will.

After you have seen me in my second form, you may tell this to others when occasion arises." This conversation took place in 1917 between the two of them. She added that her ailing aunt wanted to see her in Rajahmundry. It was there when she was in Rajahmundry in 1918 that she learnt that SRI SHIRIDI SAI BABA had left His physical body. She said, “I was filled with a kind of inexplicable anguish." Her aunt too passed away on the Ekadashi day with the lord's name on her lips, she had a dream in which Baba himself appeared and called her to him. She later spent some years in the HOLY HILLS in the sanctity of SRI CHANDRA YOGI JI MAHARAJ; who told her, "You have learnt everything that is to know. Now listen to me carefully. You have to do many more good deeds. The GOD you think you have lost is about to come into this world soon, for enlistment of the entire humanity. You will not see him in the old form with which you are familiar. He will appear in a NEW CAPTIVATING FORM. He will be the most powerful Avatar and will do many extraordinary things. Hence return to your place, learn about this lovable GOD and receive your salvation." so with a heavy heart she returned to Hyderabad; and started a HOME for the poor and destitute children. And also wrote a lot of "Hari Kathas" and supplemented her income by this and singing them.

One day she was invited to sing a Hari Katha in a village called URAVAKONDA. In the house where this event was arranged, she happened to see on the wall a photograph of a beautiful lad. He had a crown of hair. The face and eyes were most charming and magnetic; so she asked the housewife whose photo it was. The lady of the house told her, “don’t you know?" He is PUTTAPARTHI SAI BABA" If you want to see HIM, I can take you to HIM tomorrow." The next day they went to the house of one Mr. Sheshama Raju; the elder brother of now SRI SATHYA SAI BABA. She looked at the young 14 year old BABA. It was in 1940; she was then 52 years old. The first words that Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba uttered were, "Gouri, you owe me sixteen rupees in my Shirdi incarnation." She replied that she had already paid up all her debts to SRI SHIRIDI SAI BABA. And SRI SATHYA SAI BABA said, “I know. I said it because you are not able to recognize me. Otherwise you would have fallen on my feet.

“All right. After completing all your tasks at the poor home you are running, go over to Puttaparthi, I shall retain you with me and shall bestow all the joy you want." In 1958, when she was 70 years old, she closed down the poor home and went over to spend the rest of her life in Puttaparthi at the divine lotus feet, where Baba gave her a house (s.a-23) to stay in the ashram and Bhagawan named her Pedda Bottu, after materializing vibhuti with the familiar rotation of the hand and asking her to smear it on her forehead in the form of a big bottu.......(Condensed from 67th birthday celebration of Baba.)

Past Events

August 27 Ganesh Chathurthi celebrations commenced on August 27^th and Ganesh pooja was performed for 9 days. On August 27^th Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations were started off with Abhishekam for Baba in the morning and Vinayaka Pooja in the evening, this was followed by bhajans praising Lord Ganesh. On Sunday the 3^rd of September Ganesh pooja was performed by Balvikas students. Parents and students attended in good numbers.

September 23- October 2 Dussera and Baba Punya Tithi Celebrations.

Beautifully adorned Durga Mata was worshipped with Kumkumarchana every day and on the last day, Durgashtami, Special Kumkumarchana was performed. This was attended by a number of families. Bhajans praising Durga Mata were melodious. All through the Navaratri celebrations abhishekam to Baba was performed in the morning and was witnessed by good number of devotees. The evening was a special occasion with Garba dance performed by a large number of families.

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Baba’s Punya Tithi was a special occasion and the day started with special

Ekadasarudraabhishekam to Baba followed by special aarati and bhajans. In the evening Bhasmarchana was also performed. Punya Tithi celebrations mark observing respect to Baba on this day when he is said to have departed this mortal world. In the evening after bhasmarchana, Pallakiseva was performed, Baba’s samadhi was prepared and after the samadhi time the temple activities were restricted to continuous nama japam and Baba Sacharitra Parayanam.

September 23^rd: New Year as per Gujrati calendar. New Year celebrations were performed by a number of families on this day followed by special prasadam.

September 28^th Baba’s Birthday celebrations

There was special Ekadasha Rudrabhishekam (11 times) to Baba . Baba after Mangala Snanam was looking magnificent. Special aarati was performed and bhajans were sung in the evening in praise of Baba.

October 21-22 Diwali, Festival of Lights

Diwali, a very important festival to Hindus was celebrated in a grand manner. Baba always loved lights and was decorating Dwaraka Mai with lights in the evening. Diwali is goddess Lakshmi’s day. Special Lakshmi pooja was performed and after Lakshmi pooja the whole temple was decorated with candles and the temple was looking magnificent.

November 4^th –Kaarthika Poornima. Karthika masam, a very auspicious month in Indian calendar is marked for worshipping Lord Satyanarayana/Vishnu. Through out the month Satya Narayana Vratam is performed by devotees in the temple and also at their homes. Samoohika Satya Narayana Vratam was performed on November 4^th and this was witnessed and participated by a good number of families.

Adult education programs

August 30^th: Wednesday, Sun gazing, advantages, techniques by Mr. Ratan Khera Manek. He explained the advantages to human body by Sun gazing and the procedure to be followed.

September 26^th, Tuesday. Video presentation was shown of Sai Baba and Jesus Christ by Prof. Anil Kumar.

Special Invitees

September 7^th: Thursday. Mandir auditorium was packed to full to witness the melodious vocal rendering of carnatic musical extravaganza by the famous Bombay sisters. Saroja and Lalitha accompanied by their accomplished instrumentalists rendered carnatic music for 2 hours. The hall reverberated with devotional vibrations and it was a festival to everybody’s ears. This is the second time they gifted musical treat to devotees in the temple.

October 26^th, Thursday. Sri Maharajapuram Ramachandran is the 7^th descendent of sishya parampara of saint Thyagaraja; a very famous vocalist sang innumerable songs in praise of God. He presented a beautiful collection of carnatic devotional songs. His melodious and rich rendering of devotional songs was a music festival to the devotees. (By: Ramesh Tadepalli)

Upcoming Events

November 30^th Geeta Jayanthi

December 4^th Datta Jayanathi

December 25^th Christmas Celebrations

December 31^st New Years Eve Celebrations

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This photograph depicts the vibhuti abhisheka, performed by Sai Baba during festivals, especially MahaShivarathri - the night dedicated to Shiva, part of the Hindu Trinity. Brahma is the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Destroyer of illusion and untruth.

Photographs by: Bala S. Nori