Hinduism – A Brief Sketch
Swami Vivekananda
The foremost disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa

Paper on Hinduism
Read at the World’s Parliament of Religions, Chicago
19^th September 1893

Three religions now stand in the world, which have come down to us from time prehistoric- Hinduism, Zoroastrianism and Judaism. They have all received tremendous shocks and all of them prove by their survival their internal strength. But while Judaism failed to absorb Christianity and was driven out of its place of birth by its all conquering daughter, and a handful of Parsees is all that remains to tell the tale of their grand religion (Zoroastrianism), sect after sect arose in India and seemed to shake the religion of the Vedas to its very foundations, but like the waters of the sea shore in a tremendous earthquake it receded only for a while, only to return in an all-absorbing flood, a thousand times more vigorous, and when the tumult of the rush was over, these sects were all sucked in, absorbed, and assimilated into the immense body of the mother faith.

From the high spiritual flights of the Vedanta philosophy, of which the latest discoveries of science seem like echoes, to the low ideas of idolatry with its multifarious mythology, the agnosticism of the Buddhists, and the atheism of the Jains, each and all have a place in the Hindu’s religion.

Where then, the question arises, where is the common centre to which all these widely diverging radii converge? Where is the common basis upon which all these seemingly hopeless contradictions rest? And this is the question I shall attempt to answer.

There never was a time when there was no creation.

The Hindus have received their religion through revelation, the Vedas. They hold that the Vedas are without beginning and without end. It may sound ludicrous to this audience, how a book can be without beginning or end. But by the Vedas no books are meant. They mean the accumulated treasury of spiritual laws discovered by different persons into different times. Just as the law of gravitation existed before its discovery, and exist if all humanity forgot it, so is it with the laws that govern the spiritual world. The moral, ethical, and spiritual relations between soul and soul and between individual spirits and the father of all spirits, were there before their discovery, and would remain even if we forgot them.

The discoverers of these laws are called Rishis, and we honour them as perfected beings. I am glad to tell this audience that some of the very greatest of them were women. Here it may be said that these laws as laws may be without end, but they must have had a beginning. The Vedas teach us that creation is without beginning and end. Science is said to have proved that the sum total of cosmic energy is always the same. Then, if there was a time when nothing existed, where was all this manifested energy? Some say it was in a potential form in God. In that case God is sometimes potential and sometimes kinetic, which would make Him mutable. Everything mutable is a compound, and everything compound must undergo that change which is called destruction. So God would die, which is absurd. Therefore there never was a time when there was no creation.

If I may be allowed to use a simile, creation and creator are two lines, without beginning and without end, running parallel to each other. God is the ever active providence, by whose power systems after systems are being evolved out of chaos, made to run for a time and again destroyed. This is what the Brahmin boy repeats every day: “The sun and the moon, the Lord created like the suns and moons of previous cycles.” And this agrees with modern science.

I am a spirit living in a body. I am not the body.
The body will die, but I shall not die.

Here I stand and if I shut my eyes, and try to conceive my existence, “I”, “I”, “I”, what is the idea before me? The idea of a body. Am I, then, nothing but a combination of material substance? The Vedas declare, “No”. I am a spirit living in a body. I am not the body. The body will die, but I shall not die. Here am I in this body; it will fall, but I shall go on living. I had also a past. The soul was not created, for creation means a combination, which means a certain future dissolution. If then the soul was created, it must die. Some are born happy, enjoy perfect health, with beautiful body, mental vigour and all wants supplied. Others are born miserable, some are without hands or feet, others again are idiots and only drag on a wretched existence. Why, if they are all created, why does a just and merciful God create one happy and another unhappy, why is He so partial? Nor would it mend matters in the least to hold that those who are miserable in this life will be happy in a future one. Why should a man be miserable even here in the reign of a just and merciful God?

In the second place, the idea of a creator God does not explain the anomaly, but simply expresses the cruel fiat of an all-powerful being. There must have been causes, then, before his birth, to make a man miserable or happy and those were his past actions.

Are not all the tendencies of the mind and the body accounted for by inherited aptitude? Here are two parallel lines of existence- one of the mind, the other of matter. If matter and its transformations answer for all that we have, there is no necessity for supposing the existence of a soul. But it cannot be proved that thought has been evolved out of matter, and if a philosophical monism is inevitable, spiritual monism is certainly logical and no less desirable than a materialistic monism; but neither of these is necessary here.

The natural habits of a new-born soul; since they were not obtained in this present life, they must have come down from past lives.

We cannot deny that bodies acquire certain tendencies from heredity, but those tendencies only mean the physical configuration, through which a peculiar mind alone can act in a peculiar way. There are other tendencies peculiar to a soul caused by its past actions. And a soul with a certain tendency would by the laws of affinity take birth in a body, which is the fittest instrument for the display of that tendency. This is in accord with science, for science wants to explain everything by habit, and habit is got through repetitions. So repetitions are necessary to explain the natural habits of a new-born soul. And since they were not obtained in this present life, they must have come down from past lives.

There is another suggestion. Taking all these for granted, how is it that I do not remember anything of my past life? This can be easily explained. I am now speaking English. It is not my mother tongue, in fact no words of my mother tongue are now present in my consciousness; but let me try to bring them up, and they rush in. That shows that consciousness is only the surface of the mental ocean, and within its depths are stored up all the experiences. Try and struggle, they would come up and you would be conscious even of your past life.

This is direct and demonstrative evidence. Verification is the perfect proof of a theory, and here is the challenge thrown to the world by the Rishis. We have discovered the secret by which the very depths of the ocean of memory can be stirred up- try it and you would get a complete reminiscence of your past life.

So then the Hindu believes that he is a spirit. Him the sword cannot pierce, him the fire cannot burn, him the water cannot melt (or make wet)- him the air cannot dry. The Hindu believes that every soul is a circle whose circumference is nowhere, but whose centre is located in the body and that death means the change of this centre from body to body. Nor is the soul bound by the conditions of matter. In its very essence it is free, unbounded, holy, pure, and perfect. But somehow or other it finds itself tied down to matter, and thinks of itself as matter.

Why should the free, perfect and pure being be thus under the thraldom of matter, is the next question. How can the perfect soul be deluded into the belief that it is imperfect? We have been told that the Hindus shirk the question and say that no such question can be there. Some thinkers want to answer it by positing one or more quasi-perfect beings, and use big scientific names to fill up the gap. But naming is not explaining. The question remains the same. How can the perfect become the quasi-perfect; how can the pure, the absolute, change even a microscopic particle of its nature? But the Hindu is sincere. He does not want to take shelter under sophistry. He is brave enough to face the question in a manly fashion; and his answer is: “I do not know how the perfect being, the soul, came to think of itself as imperfect, as joined to and conditioned by matter.” But the fact is a fact for all that. It is a fact in everybody’s consciousness that one thinks of oneself as the body. The Hindu does not attempt to explain why one thinks one is the body. The answer that it is the will of God is no explanation. This is nothing more than what the Hindu says: “I do not know.”

Well then, the human soul is eternal and immortal, perfect and infinite, and death means only a change of centre from one body to another. The present is determined by our past actions and the future by the present. The soul will go on evolving up or reverting back from birth to birth and death to death. But there is another question; Is man a tiny boat in a tempest, raised one moment on a foamy crest of a billow and dashed down into a yawning chasm the next, rolling to and fro at the mercy of good and bad actions- a powerless, helpless wreck in an ever-raging, ever-rushing, uncompromising current of cause which rolls on crushing everything in its way and waits not for the widow’s tears or the orphan’s cry? The heart sinks at the idea, yet this is the law of Nature. Is there no hope? Is there no escape? –was the cry that went up from the bottom of that heart of despair. It reached the throne of mercy, and words of hope and consolation came down and inspired a Vedic sage, and he stood up before the world and in trumpet voice proclaimed the glad tidings: “Hear, ye children of immortal bliss! Even ye that reside in higher spheres! I have found the Ancient One who is beyond all darkness, all delusion. Knowing Him alone you shall be saved from death over again.”

“Children of immortal bliss”- what a sweet, what a hopeful name! Allow me to call you, brethren, by that sweet name- heirs of immortal bliss- yea, the Hindu refuses to call you sinners. Ye are the children of God, the sharers of immortal bliss, holy and perfect beings. Ye divinities on earth- sinners! It is a sin to call a man so; it is a standing libel on human nature. Come up, O lions, and shake off the delusion, that you are sheep; you are souls immortal, spirits free, blest and eternal; ye are not matter, ye are not bodies; matter is your servant, not you the servant of matter.

Thus it is that the Vedas proclaim not a dreadful combination of unforgiving laws, not an endless prison of cause and effect, but that at the head of all these laws, in and through every particle of matter and force, stands One “by whose command the wind blows, the fire burns, the clouds rain, and death stalks upon the earth.”

And what is His nature?

He is everywhere, the pure and formless One, the Almighty and the all-merciful. “Thou art our father, Thou art our mother, Thou art our beloved friend, Thou art the source of all strength; give us strength. Thou art He that beareth the burdens of the universe; help me bear the little burden of this life.” Thus sang the Rishis of the Vedas. And how to worship Him? Through love. “He is to be worshipped as the one beloved, dearer than everything in this and the next life.”

This is the doctrine of love declared in the Vedas, and let us see how it is fully developed and taught by Krishna, who the Hindus believe to have been God incarnate on earth.

He taught that a man ought to live in this world like a lotus leaf, which grows in water but is never moistened by water; so a man ought to live in the world- his heart to God and his hands to work.

It is good to love God for hope of reward in this or the next world, but it is better to love God for love’s sake, and the prayer goes:

“Lord, I do not want wealth, nor children, nor learning. If it be Thy will, I shall go from birth to birth, but grant me this, that I may love Thee without the hope of reward- love unselfishly for love’s sake.”

One of the disciple of Krishna, the then emperor of India, was driven from his kingdom by his enemies and had to take shelter with his queen in a forest in the Himalayas, and there one day the queen asked him how it was that he, the most virtuous of men, should suffer so much misery. King Yudhishthira answered:

“Behold my queen, the Himalayas, how grand and beautiful they are; I love them. They do not give me anything, but my nature is to love the grand, the beautiful, therefore I love them. Similarly, I love the Lord. He is the source of all beauty, of all sublimity. He is the only object to be loved; my nature is to love Him, and therefore I love. I do not pray for anything; I do not ask for anything. Let Him place me wherever He likes. I must love Him for love’s sake. I cannot trade in love.”

Purity is the condition of His mercy.

The Vedas teach that the soul is divine, only held in the bondage of matter; perfection will be reached when this bond will burst, and the word they use for it is therefore, Mukti- freedom from the bonds of imperfection, freedom from death and misery.

And this bondage can only fall off through the mercy of God, and this mercy comes on the pure. So purity is the condition of His mercy. How does that mercy act? He reveals Himself to the pure heart; the pure and the stainless see God, yea, even in this life; then and then only all the crookedness of the heart is made straight. Then all doubt ceases. He is no more the freak of a terrible law of causation. This is the very centre, the very vital conception of Hinduism. The Hindu does not want to live upon words and theories. If there are existences beyond the ordinary sensuous existence, he wants to come face to face with them. If there is a soul in him, which is not matter, if there is an all-merciful universal Soul, he will go to Him direct. So the best proof a Hindu sage gives about the soul, about God, is: “I have seen the soul; I have seen God.” And that is the only condition of perfection. The Hindu religion does not consist in struggles and attempts to believe a certain doctrine or dogma, but in realising- not in believing, but in being and becoming.

Thus the whole object of their system is by constant struggle to become perfect, to become divine, to reach God and see God, and this reaching God, seeing God, becoming perfect even as the Father in Heaven, is perfect, constitutes the religion of the Hindus.

And what becomes of a man when he attains perfection? He lives a life of bliss infinite. He enjoys infinite and perfect bliss, having obtained the only thing in which man ought to have pleasure, namely God, and enjoys the bliss with God.

So far all the Hindus are agreed. This is the common religion of all the sects of India: but then, perfection is absolute, and the absolute cannot be two or three. It cannot have any qualities. It cannot be an individual. And so when a soul becomes perfect and absolute, it must become one with Brahman, and it would only realise the Lord as the perfection, the reality, of its own nature and existence, the existence absolute, knowledge absolute, and bliss absolute. We have often and often read this called the losing of individuality and becoming a stock or a stone.

“He jests at scars that never felt a wound.”

I tell you it is nothing of the kind. If it is happiness to enjoy the consciousness of this small body, it must be greater happiness to enjoy the consciousness of two bodies, the measure of happiness increasing with the consciousness of an increasing number of bodies, the aim, the ultimate of happiness being reached when it would become a universal consciousness.

Therefore, to gain this infinite universal individuality, this miserable little prison-individuality must go. Then alone can death cease when I am one with life, then alone can misery cease when I am one with happiness itself, then alone can all errors cease when I am one with knowledge itself; and this is the necessary scientific conclusion. Science has proved to me that physical individuality is a delusion, that really my body is one little continuously changing body in an unbroken ocean of matter; and Advaita (unity) is the necessary conclusion with my other counterpart, soul.

Science is nothing but the finding of unity. As soon as science would reach perfect unity, it would stop from further progress, because it would reach the goal. Thus Chemistry could not progress farther when it would discover one element out of which all others could be made. Physics would stop when it would be able to fulfil its services in discovering one energy of which all the others are but manifestations, and the science of religion become perfect when it would discover Him who is the one life in a universe of death, Him who is the constant basis of an ever changing world. One who is the only Soul of which all souls are but delusive manifestations. Thus it is, through multiplicity and duality that the ultimate unity is reached. Religion can go no farther. This is the goal of all science.

All science is bound to come to this conclusion in the long run. Manifestation, and not creation, is the word of science today, and the Hindu is only glad that what he has been cherishing in his bosom for ages is going to be taught in more forcible language, and with further light from the latest conclusions of science.

There is no polytheism in India

Descend we now from the aspirations of philosophy to the religion of the ignorant. At the very outset, I may tell you that there is no polytheism in India. In every temple, if one stands by and listens, one will find the worshippers applying all the attributes of God, including omnipresence, to the images. It is not polytheism, nor would the name henotheism explain the situation. “The rose called by any other name would smell as sweet.” Names are not explanations.

I remember, as a boy, hearing a Christian missionary preach to a crowd in India. Among other sweet things he was telling them was that if he gave a blow to their idol with his stick, what could it do?

One of his listeners sharply answered: “If I abuse your God, what can He do?”

The preacher said, “You would be punished when you die.”

The Hindu retorted “So my idol will punish you when you die.”

The tree is known by its fruits. When I have seen amongst them that are called idolaters, men, the like of whom in morality and spirituality and love I have never seen anywhere, I stop and ask myself, ‘Can sin beget holiness?’

We can no more think about anything without a
mental image than we can live without breathing.

Superstition is a great enemy of man, but bigotry is worse. Why does a Christian go to Church? Why is the cross holy? Why is the face turned toward the sky in prayer? Why are there so many images in the Catholic Church? Why are there so many images in the minds of Protestants when they pray? My brethren, we can no more think about anything without a mental image than we can live without breathing. By the law of association, the material image calls up the mental idea and vice versa. This is why the Hindu uses an external symbol when he worships. He will tell you, it helps to keep his mind fixed on the Being to whom he prays. He knows as well you do that the image is not God, is not omnipresent. After all, how much does omnipresence mean to almost the whole world? It stands merely as a word, a symbol. Has God superficial area? If not, when we repeat that word ‘omnipresent’, we think of the extended sky or of space, that is all.

The whole religion of the Hindu
is centred in realisation.

As we find that somehow or other, by the laws of our mental constitution, we have to associate our ideas of infinity with the images of the blue sky, or of the sea, so we naturally connect our idea of holiness with the image of a church, a mosque, or a cross. The Hindus have associated the idea of holiness, purity, truth, omnipresence, and such other ideas with different images and forms. But with this difference that while some people devote their whole lives to their idol of a church and never rise higher, because with them religion means an intellectual assent to certain doctrines and doing good to their fellows, the whole religion of the Hindu is centred in realisation. Man is to become divine by realising the divine. Idols or temples or churches or books are only the supports, the helps, of his spiritual childhood: but on and on he must progress.

He must not stop anywhere. “External worship, material worship,” say the scriptures, “is the lowest stage; struggling to rise high, mental prayer is the next stage, but the highest stage is when the Lord has been realised.”

Mark the same earnest man who is kneeling before the idol tells you, “Him the sun cannot express, nor the moon, nor the stars, the lightning cannot express Him, nor what we speak of as fire; through Him they shine.” But he does not abuse anyone’s idol or call its worship sin. He recognises in it a necessary stage of life. “The child is father of the man.” Would it be right for an old man to say that childhood is a sin or youth a sin?

If a man can realise his divine nature with the help of an image, would it be right to call that a sin? Nor even when he has passed that stage, should he call it an error. To the Hindu, man is not travelling from error to truth, but from truth to truth, from lower to higher truth. To him all the religions, from the lowest fetishism to the highest absolutism, means so many attempts of the human soul to grasp and realise the Infinite, each determined by the conditions of its birth and association, and each of these marks a stage of progress; and every soul is a young eagle soaring higher and higher, gathering more and more strength, till it reaches the Glorious Sun.

Unity in variety is the plan of nature, and the Hindu has recognised it. Every other religion lays down certain fixed dogmas, and tries to force society to adopt them. It places before society only one coat, which must fit Jack and John and Henry, all alike. If it does not fit John or Henry, he must go without a coat to cover his body. The Hindus have discovered that the absolute can only be realised, or thought of, or stated, through the relative, and the images, crosses, and crescents are simply so many symbols- so many pegs to hang the spiritual ideas on. It is not that this help is necessary for every one, but those that do not need it have no right to say that it is wrong. Nor is it compulsory in Hinduism.

One thing I must tell you, Idolatry in India does not mean anything horrible. It is not the mother of harlots. On the other hand, it is the attempt of undeveloped minds to grasp high spiritual truths. The Hindus have their faults, they sometimes have their exceptions; but mark this, they are always for punishing their own bodies, and never for cutting the throats of their neighbours. If the Hindu fanatic burns himself on the pyre, he never lights the fire of Inquisition. And even this cannot be laid at the door of his religion any more than the burning of witches can be laid at the door of Christianity.

To the Hindu, then, the whole world of religions is only a travelling, a coming up, of different men and women, through various conditions and circumstances, to the same goal. Every religion is only evolving a God out of the material man, and the same God is the inspirer of all of them. Why, then, are there so many contradictions? They are only apparent, says the Hindu. The contradictions come from the same truth adapting itself to the varying circumstances of different natures.

It is the same light coming through glasses of different colours. And these little variations are necessary for purposes of adaptation. But in the heart of everything the same truth reigns. The Lord has declared to the Hindu in His incarnation as Krishna, “I am in every religion as the thread through a string of pearls. Wherever thou seest extraordinary holiness and extraordinary power raising and purifying humanity, know thou that I am there.” And what has been the result? I challenge the world to find, throughout the whole system of Sanskrit philosophy, any such expression as that the Hindu alone will be saved and not others. Says Vyasa, “We find perfect men even beyond the pale of our caste and creed.” One thing more. How, then, can the Hindu, whose whole fabric of thought centres in God, believe in Buddhism which is agnostic, or in Jainism which is atheistic?

The Buddhists or the Jains do not depend upon God; but the whole force of their religion is directed to the great central truth in every religion, to evolve a God out of man. They have not seen the Father, but they have seen the Son.. And he that hath seen the Son hath seen the Father also.

This, brethren, is a short sketch of the religious ideas of the Hindus. The Hindu may have failed to carry out all his plans, but there is ever to be a universal religion, it must be one which will have no location in place or time; which will be infinite like the God it will preach, and whose sun will shine upon the followers of Krishna and of Christ, on saints and sinners alike; which will not be Brahminic or Buddhistic, Christian or Mohammedan, but the sum total of all these, and still have infinite space for development; which in its catholicity will embrace in its infinite arms, and find a place for, every human being, from the lowest grovelling savage not far removed from the brute, to the highest man towering by the virtues of his head and heart almost above humanity, making society stand in awe of him and doubt his human nature. It will be a religion which will have no place for persecution or intolerance in its polity, which will recognise divinity in every man and woman, and whose whole scope, whose whole force, will be created in aiding humanity to realise its own true, divine nature.

Offer such a religion, and all the nations will follow you. Asoka’s council was a council of the Buddhist faith. Akbar’s, though more to the purpose, was only a parlour meeting. It was reserved for America to proclaim to all quarters of the globe that the Lord is in every religion.

May He who is the Brahman of the Hindus, the Ahura-Mazda of the Zoroastrians, the Buddha of the Buddhists, the Jehovah of the Jews, the Father in Heaven of the Christians, give strength to you to carry out your noble idea! The star arose in the East; it travelled steadily towards the West,

sometimes dimmed and sometimes effulgent, till it made a circuit of the world; and now it is again rising on the very horizon of the East, the borders of the Sanpo, a thousandfold more effulgent than it ever was before.

Hail, Columbia, motherland of liberty! It has been given to thee, who never dipped her hand in her neighbour’s blood, who never found out that the shortest way of becoming rich was by robbing one’s neighbours, it has been given to thee to march at the vanguard of civilisation with the flag of harmony.

bhoktaram yajna-tapasam

sarva-loka-mahesvaram

suhrdam sarva-bhutanam

jnatva mam santim rcchati (Bg 5.29)

Real peace can only come when we accept Krishna as the proprietor and enjoyer of everything. We have nothing to fight about. So this is the devotee! Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu wants to reveals to the world what pleases Him through the prayers of His devotees. They were willing to stay in this material world, that was their humility, “But just let me be with Your devotees and chant Your names with them,” That is the beauty of the association of devotees. It is the place were people actually believe in the supreme eternal form and pastimes of the Lord. It is people who want to please the Lord eternally as His servants.

In the association of devotees the glories of the Lord are being discussed. The teachings of the Lord are being promoted and everyone is united finding the ultimate happiness in loudly glorifying His holy names – Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. When we chant the holy names and glories of the Lord as well as hear them Krishna is pleased, when Krishna is pleased within our heart He dispels all of the dirtiness of our hearts. It is not just a mechanical process. It is not that we are just chanting and therefore we are getting purified. We should understand how I am getting purified and why we are getting purified because Krishna is non different than His name. Krishna’s name has sweet will. It is not just a sound vibration. It is God who has incarnated in sound vibration.
- Association of Devotees is the Greatest Benediction SB-04.22.20

“In fact Caitanya Mahaprabhu said blaspheming a devotee is like drinking poison. Praising devotees and Krishna is like drinking nectar. So if we have actually a position of humility and pridelessness which Prabhupada is emphasising here in, then we can actually understand what is the spiritual principle of ahimsa. What is actual non-violence? Para upkar. Really living for the welfare of other living beings. As long as we want to be the master, as long as we want to be controller, as long as we have this desire for possession for pratistha, as long as we have this desire for enjoyment either on the gross or subtle levels then we are impelled to various activities that unnecessarily hurt other people’s hearts or disregard other species of lives hearts.”  – What Exactly is Non Violence SB-02.07.37

Sundararupaya – Old Rare Pictures Of Baba V

Rare Picture Of Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai Baba: I did not like the fulsome praises with which you flooded Me in the Address which was read out when this meeting started. I am yours and you are mine. This is a family get together. As a matter of fact all the gatherings that I meet are family gatherings. The entire mankind is My family. It sounds very improper when a member of the family is extolled by another before the rest. This is a habit, a ceremony that is borrowed from political life, where politicians are given addresses wherein they are praised. So that some benefits may accrue to the place which they are visiting and which present those praises.

Rare Photograph Of Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai Baba: Swami’s will is firm. No one can alter it. Swami’s glory, fame and sacredness has not been achieved through publicity. They are the results of Swami’s actions. I have no concern with publicity. Action alone counts. What is achieved through publicity will disappear through publicity. Sai will not be affected by propaganda. The world may be affected by propaganda but Sai will remain the same. Many of you are pained by the calumny. Some papers are indulging in disregarding Me. Many are urging that something should be done about it. But I am holding everyone back because that is the best way to deal with praise and blame. The ocean knows no overflowing or drying up. It is ever full, ever majestic, ever unconcerned.

Old Picture Of Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai Baba: I have been advising you to do good to others, to make others happy, to help others live comfortably. This is called Sat Karma (beneficial acts). Now, these papers that live on falsehood are able to scrape together a little money from the people with low tastes. The people who spread such fantastic absurdities, knowing them to be false and knowing that they are manufactured by their own brains, get joy out of this exercise. Do not stop them from it, for without spending a single naya paisa, you are now able to give them joy. Let them revel in their own mind. Joy is what one desires from one’s own mind. When the mind is vicious, it derives joy from vicious things. when it is pure. Only purity can give it joy.

Rare Image Of Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai Baba: I have no other purpose than this: To lead you to the path of Ananda. I have no special attachment to Vidwan Mahasabha because I have established it. All sabhas, sanyasis and individuals that do the same task, according to their capacity and means are dear to Me. I do not call upon you to cultivate faith in Me or worship Me. I want only that you should cultivate faith in yourselves and worship the Lord who is utilizing you as His instrument.

Old Photograph Of Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai Baba: In this manner, all my thoughts are devoted to promoting the good of others. Is any Government or wealthy person thinking along these lines? None at all. When such sacred things are being done, jealousy rises its head in some persons. This is the outcome of their sins. These envious folk will not do anything good themselves, nor will they allow others to do good. This is not a human quality. A true human being should be filled with large-hearted sentiments.

Rare Photo Of Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai Baba: My Power is immeasurable. My Truth is Inexplicable, unfathomable. I am announcing this about Me, for, the need has arisen. But, what I am doing now is only a gift of a visiting card! Let Me tell you that emphatic declarations of the Truth by the Avatars were made so clearly and unmistakably only by Krishna. Inspite of the declaration, you will notice that in the career of Krishna, He underwent defeat with his efforts and endeavours, on a few occasions, though you must also notice that those defeats too were part of the Drama which He had planned and which He Himself had directed. When many kings pleaded with Him to avert the war with the Kauravas, He confessed that his mission to the Kaurava court for ensuring peace had ‘failed’! But He had not willed that He should succeed. He had decided that the war would be waged. His mission was intended to punish the greed and the iniquity of the Kauravas and so condemn them before the world. But, I must tell you, that during this Sai Avatar, there is no place for even such a “Drama” with scenes of defeat and failures. What I will, must take place. What I plan must succeed. I am truth. And truth has no need to hesitate, or fear, or bend.

Rare Pic Of Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai Baba: You do not realise your boon in getting Me as the guide. I shall not rest until I reform all of you. The basement of My work has been completed. Now the structure will rise upon it. I go round the world along with no paraphernalia and no publicity, because I am established in My own Glory, in My own Truth. I have Atmic relationship with all, and so I am always succeeding.

- Visit The Sathya Sai Baba Official Website

Also see:
- Sundararupaya – Old Rare Pictures Of Baba IV
- Sundararupaya – Old Rare Pictures Of Baba III
- Sundararupaya – Old Rare Pictures Of Baba II
- Sundararupaya – Old Rare Pictures Of Baba I

There was a Sant called Vitthobha in Maharashtra. He dint want to get married and wanted to be a bramachari all his life. He would always meditate upon god and read the holy book of Srimad Bhagavadam. He would get alms and have his food. He once came to Pandharpur and had the darshan of Lord Vitthal and was sleeping on the banks of river Chandrabhaga. That night Lord Pandurang came in his dream and said that a Brahman would bring to him a girl called Rukmani tomorrow and asked him to get married to her. He got up in the morning and started performing his daily ritual thinking why god had asked him to get married when he wanted to be a bramachari all his life. Pandurang had also told the same to the Brahman in his dream and had asked him to go in search of Vitthobha on the banks of Chandrabhaga the next morning. The Brahman came to Chandrabhaga and on seeing Vitthobha told him about his dream; Vitthobha told him that Pandharinath had also told him the same and agreed to get married to his daughter. He then came back to his village and started living as a family man. Vitthobha was longing for a child so that he could go back to sanyasa ashram leaving his wife with the children, but unfortunately they did not have a child for a long time. One day Vitthobha left home without telling his wife and went to Kasi and met Swami Ramanada. (Swami Ramananda is also the guru of Sant Kabirdas). He then formally took Sanyasa ashram from his guru Ramanda and stayed with him in Kasi. His wife Rukmani was searching for him and months passed by. Some one had told her that her husband would return if she goes around the Pipal tree (Arasa maram in Tamil). She started doing this religiously and years passed by but her husband had not returned.

Swami Ramanada had started on a yatra to Dakshin Bharath with his sishyas. Vitthobha refrained from joining his Guru in the yatra as he dint want to meet his family even accidentally when they pass by his village. Swami Ramananda reached Vitthobha’s village and happened to sit under the Pipal tree. Rukmani after completing her pradakshan prostrated Swami Ramananda as he was sitting there. As she was going around the Pipal tree Swami Ramanada thought that she was praying for a child and blessed her saying “Putravati Bhava”. On hearing this she burst into tears. Swami Ramanada on seeing this asked her why she was crying. She then told him that her husband had abandoned her a few years back. She also said that the blessings of Saints like him don’t go waste. She then said that some people have told her that her husband has become a Sanyasi. He then asked her if she knew where he was and who gave him sanyas. She then replied that people say that he took sanyas from Swami Ramanada in Kasi. Swami Ramanada then told her that it was he who had given him sanyasa diksha and also told her that if Lord Rama had made him bless her as “Putravathi Bhava” he would make it happen. He then sent a letter to Kasi for Vitthobha. On seeing his letter Vitthobha came to meet his Guru. Swami Ramanand then told him; be it Dharm or Adharm you will have to make my words come true. He also said that there is no bigger Dharm than to listen to ones Guru’s words. As it was his Guru’s wish Vitthobha agreed to it and came back to family life. After some time Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma and Goddess Shakthi came to this world as their children. Their first son Nivritidev was the incarnation of Shiva, the second son Gyaneshwar was the incarnation of Vishnu and the third son Sopandev was the incarnation of Brahma, the fourth child Muktha Bai was the incarnation of Shakthi. They had taken this avatar to teach the world the importance of nama sankirtan and prove that it was the only relief for any human being in this Kaliyug. Even though Vittobha had come back to family life as per his Guru’s instructions he was having a feeling that he had committed a sin by coming back to Grihastashram from Sanyasashram. As he was a learned person he also knew that the only way to relive him of this sin was to jump in to the Ganges and reach the god. He told this to his wife and she too wanted to go with him as she felt that she was also a party to this sin that he had committed. They both left the kids praying to Lord Vitthal asking him to take care of them and left for Prayaga (the meeting point of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswathi) and then to the Himalayas and got in to the Ganges to give up their life.

Nivritidev, Gyaneshwar, Sopandev and Muktha Bai were very young and everyone in the village neglected them and teased them. The children would eat if any one offered them food, otherwise they would just starve. They would not go and ask for alms from anyone. Nivriti was 6 years old, Gyaneshwar was 5, and Sopan was 4 years old now. As they were Brahmans they wanted get their Upananyanam (Sacred thread ceremony) done at the right age. They went to the Brahmans in the village and asked them to perform Upanayanam for them. The Brahmans laughed at them and said that as they were born to a Sanyasi they can’t call themselves as Brahmans and so they would not perform the Upanayanam for them. They then said that there is a place called Prathishtanapuram (Now called as Paithan) where there are a lot of learned people and asked them to approach them to check if there was anyway they could perform the ceremony. They also said that they would perform the same if they agree to it and give a letter to them stating the same. The children then came to Paithan and met the Brahmans there. Gyaneshwar then asked them to perform the ceremony for them. The Brahmans then asked them to which gothram do they belong to. Gyaneshwar replied to them saying that if the gothram was not known for someone the guru could use his gothram for performing the ceremony. They were surprised at this answer and thought how such a young kid knew so much about the sastras, but then said that they would not perform the ceremony without knowing if they really were Brahmans. Gyaneshwar then told them the different stages that a man goes through before becoming a Brahman and said that they have all crossed that stage, but still wanted to have the ceremony performed as it was customary. He also said that a Brahman is one who has seen the Brahmam and as they have seen the Brahmam they could perform the ceremony for them. The Brahmans then asked them if they had seen the Brahmam then why they need all these rituals. Gyaneshwar told them that as it is put in the Vedas that one should stick to their dharmas; we wanted to have the ceremony done. The Brahmans then asked them how they got Bhramagyanam. Gyaneshwar told them that god was every where and it was up to the individual to see him. He then showed a buffalo that was roaming on the street and said that god was inside the buffalo too. The Brahmans then got angry and asked if that was true will the buffalo too speak Vedanta like how he speaks. Gyaneshwar then touched the buffalo and said “Panduranga recite the Vedas” The buffalo immediately started reciting the Vedas. The Brahmans on seeing this were stunned and then said that a person like him who has attained jeevan mukthi does not require all these ceremonies. They then left Paithan and started on a yatra with the buffalo.

Sant Gyaneshwar

Gyaneshwar made a composition on Bhagavad Gita called Gyaneshwari. Till date it is the most popular book in Marathi on Bhagavad Gita. They then came back to Paithan and stayed there. There was a person called Changadev who was a Yogi, he was 1000 years old. He would walk on water, fly in the sky, get inside fire and come out without getting burnt. One day he got a new siddhi and started making dead people come alive. The whole village got to know about this and every one in Paithan and nearby villages started bringing everyone who was dead to Changadev and he made them come alive. However Changadev did not like Gyaneshwar and would ask the people in the village what was there with Gyaneshwar and why so many people went to meet him and listened to the abhangs and his discourses. The news reached Gyaneshwar but he dint bother about it. Muktha Bai his kid sister did not like this and she wanted to teach Changadev a lesson. Muktha then went to Chagadev’s ashram and there were a lot of people waiting outside for the Yogi with a dead body next to them. When they saw the 5 year old Muktha they asked her to go away fearing that she would be frightened seeing the dead bodies. Muktha asked them why they were waiting outside and they said that they were waiting for Changadev to come and wake the dead bodies. Hearing this, the little girl said that she could also wake them up. They then told her that she would get frightened on seeing them and asked her to leave. She then ran towards the dead body and said “Vitthala Vitthala” on it ears and then ran away. The dead body immediately woke up and started jumping and chanting “Vitthala Vitthala”. Hearing this noise Changadev came outside. He then enquired what happened and the people who were waiting for him told him what happened. He then asked them if they knew who that kid was and they said that it was Gyaneshwar’s kid sister. Changdev was shocked and surprised listening to this. He then wanted to meet Gyaneshwar and came to meet him sitting on a tiger. Seeing this, the villagers panicked and ran to tell this news to Gyaneshwar. Gyaneshwar was then fixing the compound wall in his house; he sat on the wall and asked the wall to move towards Changadev. The wall immediately started moving and now villagers were surprised. When Changadev saw this he was astonished. He immediately got down prostrated to Gyaneshwar and came to him. Gyaneshwar then told him that these siddhis are not useful to attain god and that they only take one in the wrong direction. Changadev immediately realised what he was saying and asked Gyaneshwar to show him the correct path. Gyaneshwar then asked Muktha to show him the right path. Muktha Bai then told him that listening to the stories of god, singing the praise of god is the only way to attain god. Changadev then prostrated both Muktha and Gyaneshwar and went to Pandharpur to live like true bhaktha. From that day he never used any of the siddhis that he had gained. He stayed in Pandhari along with Sant Namdev and spent the rest of his life singing bhajans and kirthans and listening to pravachans.

Gyaneshwar once came to Pandharpur and met Namdev. Namdev prostrated to Gyaneshwar and they hugged each other. Gyaneshwar then told Namdev that he had come to Pandharpur only to see him. He then told him that he wanted to go on a yatra around the country and wanted Nama to come with him. Nama told him that he was happy in Pandhari and that he could not leave Vitthal and go outside Pandharpur. Gyaneshwar then told Nama that he was going to visit all the places like Ayodhya, Vrindavan etc where god had lived in his earlier avatars and that he should come to see it with him. Nama then told him that Vitthal was still living and playing with his devotees in Pandharpur and said that he would be happy to be with him in Pandhari than go and visit a place where he lived earlier. Gyaneshwar then told him that he greatly desired to have Namdev’s company for the yatra. Namdev then asked him to ask Vitthal and also said that he would go with him if that was Vitthal wish. Gyaneshwar went to Vitthal, told him that he had come to him to ask for something. Vitthal asked him what he wanted and Gyaneshwar told him that he wanted to go on a yatra. Vitthal then told him that it was a good decision and told him that he would be liberating so many lives in this world by doing so. Gyaneshwar then asked Vitthal to send Namdev along with him for the yatra. Hearing this Vitthal was struck by grief and told him that he can’t be without Namdev. Gyanadev however said that he wanted to go with Nama and Vitthal then called Nama with tears and asked him to go with Gyaneshwar.

Gyaneshwar and Namdev started on a yatra with a few others. They would go to every village and perform namasankirtan. When they left the village a few people would join them in their yatra. The yatra that started with 10 people at Pandhari now became as big as 1000 people. They would perform street bhajans in each village and then move on the next village. Every one who saw them singing would get attracted and start singing and dancing with love for god. This way they reached Delhi and by now there were over a lakh yatris coming with Namdev and Gyaneshwar. Delhi was then ruled by a Mohamedian king, unmindful of this they continued going through the streets of Delhi, singing the praise of god with ecstasy. The king on seeing his subjects getting attracted towards them decided to prove that Hinduism was not true. He then sent a person with a cow to the place where they were performing bhajans. The Mohamedian came with the cow and told them that he is going to slaughter the cow and if the god whom they consider as the supreme cowherd is true, he should make the cow come alive. Namdev immediately replied to him that Vitthal would take care of the cow. The Mohamedian then told that he would slaughter the cow and asked him how long he would take to bring back life to the cow. Nama then told him that he would bring it alive in 3 days. On hearing this he slaughtered the cow and left the place with a big smile thinking that in 3 days time the people who have been his followers will understand that he is not a saint and no one would follow him any more. For 3 days Nama was just singing and crying to Lord Vitthal blaming himself as the reason for the cow’s death. Nama almost fainted on the 3^rd day as he refused to have food or water from the time the cow was slaughtered. Vitthal then came and consoled Nama and asked him to see the cow. Nama saw the cow getting up and asked Vitthal why he had made him wait for 3 days, when he could have come immediately. Vitthal then told him that it was Nama who promised the killer that he would make it come alive in 3 days and that he waited for 3 days only to make his words true. After this event a lot of people in Delhi became the followers of Gyaneshwar and Namdev and everyone started performing bhajans and kirthans at their home. They then went to many villages and cities up North and were returning back to Pandhari via Marwar. They got stuck in the desert and lost their way completely. There was no food or water and they could not find any village nearby. Nama fainted and fell down as he could not withstand the heat of the desert. Seeing this Gyaneshwar started crying and pleading Vitthal asking him to come for help. Seeing this Nama told him that whatever was the wish of Vitthal would happen and one can not do anything about it. Vitthal then sent his disc (Chakkaram) to their rescue and the disc went inside the ground and created a spring for them. All the bhakthas then took water from the spring to quench their thirst and continued their journey.

The yatris reached a place called Vaidhyanatham (now it is called Deogarh in Bihar) which is one of the 12 Jyothir Linga places. The day they arrived happened to be Shivarathri and so they went and prayed to Lord Shiva in this temple. They then sat in front of the main deity and started their kirthans. After singing a few songs about Lord Shiva they started singing about Vitthal as usual. Hearing this, the temple priest came to them and said that they should not be sitting in front of the main deity and singing as they would be performing abishekams and poojas for Lord Shiva. They also said that this was a Shiva temple and that they should not perform bhajans about Vishnu in this temple. Gyaneshwar then said that the Lord Shiva wanted them to sing here and that they would leave if he asks them to leave. The temple officials then intervened and showed them another place behind Lord Shiva to perform their bhajans. They all moved to the new place and started singing there.  After some time the temple priests locked the shrine and left after performing all the poojas. Gyaneshwar, Namdev and other bagavathas continued to perform their kirthans through the night and Lord Shiva turned to the side where they were sitting with his shrine. The next morning the priests came to open the temple and were astonished find that the shrine had turned. They then realised that it had happened because they asked the bhakthas and bagavathas to go and sit on the rear side of the temple. They understood that Lord Shiva had done this to show his love towards them. They then came running to see Gyaneshwar and Namdev, prostrated to them and apologised for having misbehaved with them the previous day. Gyaneshwar and Namdev then told them that they being the priest of Lord Shiva, they will not misbehave with any one and that it was Lord Shiva’s leela and continued with their journey.

Gyaneshwar and Namdev had almost reached Pandhari and Nama was now longing to have a darshan of Vitthal and started running towards Pandhari with tears in his eyes. It had been about a year since he went on a yatra with Gyaneshwar. Vitthal also came to the banks of Chandrabhaga to receive them and was happy that they have returned back. The entire village of Pandharpur was in a festive mood when they knew they were returning and came to receive them.

A few days later Vitthal told Nama that a Samaradhanam has to be performed for him as he has completed the yatra. He also said, as Gyaneshwar was a Yogi, it is not necessary for him but as Nama was a family man it has to be performed for him. Nama then told him that it was not required for him, but as Vitthal insisted Nama agreed to it. Vitthal wanted to get the Brahmans from Paithan to perform the same. The real reason behind performing this ritual was that Vitthal wanted the Brahmans of Paithan to realise the greatness of bhajans and kirthans. Vitthal then took the form of a rich man and came to Paithan along with Gyaneshwar, Nama and other bhakthas. Vitthal and the other bhakthas prostrated to the Brahmans. Vitthal then told them that he wanted to perform an udyapan in Pandharpur and wanted them to perform the same. Vitthal then asked them to come to Pandharpur the following Saturday to perform the same and went back to Pandharpur with his bhakthas. The Brahmans came as stated and performed the ceremony. Once the ceremony was completed they were served food. Rukmani, Radha, Sathyabama and others served food for the Brahmans. Vitthal then gave each Brahman their dakshana and asked them to take some rest. Vitthal then asked if he could now go and have food and the Brahmans asked him to go ahead. Vitthal called all his bhakthas to have lunch with him. Vitthal’s bhakthas are from all sects including the harijans. They all came and sat down for lunch. Nama was sitting next to Vitthal. Seeing the people from lower caste sitting next to Vitthal, the Brahmans thought if Vitthal was really a Brahman or if he fooled them saying he was one. The bhakthas were feeding Vitthal from their plate and Vitthal was feeding the bhakthas from his plate. Seeing this, the Brahmans got angry and started to leave. Vitthal and his bhakthas had finished their lunch by then and came towards them. The Brahmans then asked Vitthal if he dint know about the way a Brahman is to conduct himself and asked him why he was eating with people from the lower caste. Vitthal then told them that he was not aware of the same and asked them to perform a prayachitham (doing penance) for the same. The Brahmans then agreed to perform the same for Vitthal and they fixed the next Saturday for the same. They then gave the list of items to be procured and left. The next Saturday the Brahmans came and performed the ceremony religiously. Once the ceremony was over he requested the Brahmans to have lunch. He then asked them to take rest and went to have his lunch. This time too Vitthal had food with all his bhakthas who were from the lower caste. The Brahmans got angry again and asked Vitthal why he had done the same mistake again even after doing penance. Vitthal then told them that he did this again as he now knew he could do a penance for the same. He also said that he can have food only when he eats with them and that he can’t eat alone. They then told Vitthal that being a Brahman he should act like a Brahman. Vitthal then told them that he thinks the people with whom he had food as Brahmans and not them. The Brahmans asked him how he says that. Vitthal then told them that it is only because they don’t have the Gyan they look at these people as belonging to lower caste. He then said that a Brahman is one who sees Brahmam in every living being in this world. The Brahmans said that what he said was true but it is applicable only for people who have really realised the same in their life and not for everyone. They also asked him how he talked like he knew the Vedas, Upanishads etc and asked him to reveal who he really was. Vitthal then said the Brahmans that he will first show who his friends are and gave Gyan to the Brahmans. When the Brahmans saw the bhakthas they realised that Gyaneshwar was Vishnu, Nivriti was Shiva, Sopan was Bhrama and all other bhakthas took the form of other gods and goddess. The Brahmans then realised their mistake and prostrated to all the saints there and asked Vitthal for forgiveness. They then joined with them and started singing the kirthans and bhajans. After spending a few days with these saints they then went back to Paithan.

Rechts: Brenda, Durga en Indra zingen voor Swami

Links: Vol overgave, lekker zingen!

Sundararupaya – Old Rare Pictures Of Baba IV

Old Photograph Of Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai Baba: One member of the audience asked Me whether it was necessary for India to equip itself with atom bombs in view of the fact that both affluent America and communist Russia had huge piles of atom bombs. I replied, “What folly is this! When there are millions in the country who lack food, clothing and shelter, the provision of these necessities is the most urgent task and not manufacturing of atom bombs. Of what use are bombs when you cannot feed the people? Crores are being wasted on armaments. I cannot agree to such wastage”.

Old Photo Of Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai Baba: I declare that I am in everyone, in every being. So do not hate anyone, or cavil at anyone. Share Prema always, everywhere. That is the best way of revering me. I am beyond your understanding. Pray or worship for your own satisfaction and contentment. But to say that I will respond only if I am called or that I will save only if I am thought of, is wrong. Have you not heard the declaration, Sarvathah Pani Padam? You can hear My Foot steps, for I walk with you, behind you, beside you. When you cry out in agony, “Don’t you hear my hearts complaint? Have you become so stone hearted?” My ear will be there to listen. Ask that I should protect you like the apple of the eye. My eye will be there to watch over you and guard you. Have incense sticks (Dhoop) and scent sticks for the Puja and I smell them. I answer to whatever name you use. I respond to whatever request you make with a pure heart and a sanctified motive.

Old Image Of Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai Baba: There are many who are engaged in criticism and calumny. Many papers published all types of writing. Many pamphlets are printed. All kinds of things happen in the world. My reply to all this is just a smile. The reason is such criticisms and distortions are the inevitable accompaniments of everything good and great. Embodiments of Love! Not these only, but even if the entire world opposes unitedly, nothing can affect Me. My Mission is essentially Mine. I am engaged in the good. My heart is ever full of benediction. I have no ego. I do not own anything. This is My Truth. Those who have faith in this, My Truth, will not hesitate to dedicate themselves to it.

Rare Image Of Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai Baba: You may not be able to see it, but it is clear before My eyes. As days pass, even those who are not able to recognise now the Truth of Sai will have to approach with tears of repentance and experience Me. Very soon, this will be worldwide. Swami is now firmly restraining this development. When once it is allowed to manifest, the whole world will be transformed into Prasanthi Nilayam.

Rare Pic Of Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai Baba: Society today is rampant with jealousy and hatred. Jealousy is a disease, which gives rise to hatred. Develop forbearance and good will. That is the cure for jealousy. I have often declared, “My Life is My Message.” Often many have extolled Me and many have denied Me. I do not get elated by praise or depressed by criticism. I treat everything alike (Samatwam). “Samathwam Yogamuchyathe”. That equal minded-ness is Yoga. What do I lose when some one criticises Me? That is his opinion. It does not affect Me. Those who criticise Baba are suffering from a disease, like those who reject a sweet because they suffer from diabetes. The fault lies in the person and not in the sweet. They know that Baba is engaged in beneficial activities. They want Him to fulfill their desires. But because their selfish interests are not satisfied they turn against Swami. This is a malady. When you see the facts in this light, you will realise the truth.

Rare Photograph Of Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai Baba: I am like the electric fan. Switch it on, it gives cool breeze. Switch it off, it allows you to swelter in the heat. I have no likes or dislikes. Those who talk ill of Me are also remembering My name and deriving joy therefrom and perhaps earning a few paisa thereby. They are happy when they write falsehood. You are happy, singing the Truth. I am unconcerned with either. I have come for a task which I have imposed on Myself. That task will go on, from victory to victory, irrespective of praise or blame. It can neither be halted or hindered.

Rare Photo Of Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai Baba: I am prepared to help anyone from any village, any state or community, I do not cherish differences of any kind. Whether you believe it or not, I may assure you that I respect only one caste, the caste of humanity, only one religion, the religion of love, and only one language, the language of the heart. I shall never say “No” to anybody who seeks My help, whatever his caste, religion or creed may be. A good many devotees are gathered here. I am prepared even to part with Prasanthinilayam to meet your requests. I am prepared to do anything for the good of the people. That is My only concern.

- Visit The Sathya Sai Baba Official Website

Also see:
- Sundararupaya – Old Rare Pictures Of Baba III
- Sundararupaya – Old Rare Pictures Of Baba II
- Sundararupaya – Old Rare Pictures Of Baba I

HTML clipboard

Sathya Sai Baba ’s visit to Pune Mumbai – Hadshi Temple Panduranga Kshetra Welcoming the Lord back to Prasanthi   2nd Nov. 2009 – Day 6 The Return of The Lord Sairam Photos Day 1 Photos Day 2 Photos Day 3 Divine Discourse Divine Visit to Pune & Mumbai-welcome in Hadshi pics Murthi Prana- Kumbha Abhishekam,Poornahuti Divine Discourse Go-daan, distribution of implements, soul stirring music Reflections… Sai Abode Mumbai Day 5 : Photos Day 4 : Photos Reflections from Pune by Ms Julie Chaudhuri Dharmakshetra Sathy Deep 1st November, 2009 – Jamboori Maidan Worli, Mumbai & Brabourne Stadium, CCI, Mumbai 31st October, 2009 Bhagawan arrived at Dharmakshetra, Mumbai Photos Day 6 Home   A) Photos Bhagawan’s Departure from Mumbai Audio-Video B) Swami’s arrival in Puttaparthi Photos Day 1 Photos Day 2 Photos Day 3 Photos Day 3 Photos Day 4 Photos Day 5 Photos Day 6 The Return of The Lord Posted at 17:00 Hrs. IST on 3rd Nov 2009 Photo source: sssbpt.org – layout design saibabaofindia.com   Welcoming the Lord back to Prasanthi is never an ordinary occasion, rather is a momentous occasion to reconnet, for Prasanthi or Puttaparthi can never bear the pangs of separation from �her� Beloved. This is the history   of her very existence and the existence is the Divine Being Himself, but for whose presence the spiritual township goes barren. This time the �gap� was just less than a week, precisely six days, and Prasanthi was ever jubilant with floating devotees making life active. Watching over the activities at Pune and Mumbai, Prasanthi has been updating the events of her Beloved and eagerly awaiting the day, 2nd November to dawn faster. Roads were yet again spruced up to welcome the Lord, with banners and flower decorations heralding the �Advent� of the Divine. Linking to Mumbai news updates were pouring in hinting at the exact hour of Divine arrival. Entire Airport vicinity was spruced up to welcome the Divine and escort vehicles were set in position well in advance. Behind the panoramic blue skies with golden sun dotting prominently as if awaiting to receive The Lord, while waning to dusk, the scene was perfect for the Majestic Lord�s Air Chariot to touch down. And dotting in the sky, precisely couple of minutes after the clock ticked five, the tiny birdlike air-chariot, Jet Airliner Boeing 737-700 grew larger in proportion, finally touching down the tarmac of the Sri Sathya Sai Airport at 5:04 p.m. after a more than an hour air sojourn from Mumbai to Puttaparthi. Bhagawan was received by the Secretary of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, Sri K. Chakravarthi along with other officials including Airport Director, Capt. Sharma joined by hundreds of eagerly expectant devotees waiting outside for a glimpse of the Lord. And the special guest showed up at the Airport to receive the Master was the little Sathya Geeta, Bhagawan’s pet elephant who was at her best exuberance playing pranks. Arathi was offered to Bhagawan before He proceeded to Ashram. The entire aircrew was blessed by Bhagawan before leaving the airport precincts. Enroute to Prasanthi, covering the three kilometer road stretch, it was celebration all over, with hundreds lined up at vantage points to have a glimpse of The Lord on His return journey. There were many a folded hand, there were flower showers with colourful petals strewn at the Divine Chariot, there were arathi offerings, there were coconut breakings and there were another hundreds silently glancing at Him, all in merriment of His return. . The journey took almost half an hour with Bhagawan reaching the precincts of Prasanthi Nilayam just after 5:30 for a traditional welcome led by Veda chanting and flag bearing university and school students. Heaps of flowers strewn on the windshield was reminiscent of the merriment of the occasion and behind the beauty of these flowers was hiding the beautiful charming Lord of Puttaparthi. Bhajans were going on and welcoming the Lord they sang�Swagatam, Swagatam� Sri Sathya Sai Swagatham! Upon arriving, the compassionate Lord came for a full round in the car through the gents� side. For a brief three bhajan sessions The Lord appeared on the dais before calling for Arathi. Earlier, back in Mumbai, after an extremely long and busy Sunday, the proceedings on the 2nd of November morning was restricted to the Dharmakshetra premises. The old students of Bhagawan from Mumbai had made a short video documentary depicting the evolution of Dharmakshetra. Bhagawan watched the film in Sathya Deep and blessed all the old students and posed for photographs. These grateful students had a prayer to Bhagawan to visit Mumbai frequently.   Click: Photos Bhagawan’s Departure from Mumbai This was followed by a visit to Shanti Deep, the Bhajan Hall, where Bhagawan blessed many an active workers who were involved in the backstage preparation connected to Bhagawan�s visit. This was followed by a short Bhajan session at Jalan Mandap after which Bhagawan accepted Aarathi and retired to Sathya Deep. …And the the schedule hour arrived Dharmakshetra was preparing herself for the pangs of separation that she had endured many a time over the past. Recollecting the parting moments, we have a narration by an active volunteer, Aazmeen Kasad, an Advocate at Mumbai High Court and a Professor of Law, who had been reporting the events from Mumbai during the visit. Click: Photos Bhagawan’s Departure from Mumbai “At close to about 2 pm, Dharmakshetra witnessed a frenzy of activity and movement, after a brief pause for lunch prasadam which was partaken by one and all who had gathered for the morning darshan in Satyadeep, Shantideep and the Jalan Mandap. Bhagawan had disappointed no one. This despite the fact that His past two days� schedule had been a physically hectic and demanding one, it seemed as if He was willing to fulfil the requests of each and every devotee and make up for the drought of His Divine Darshan that Mumbai had experienced over the past nine years. As the luggage of His guests and students was seen being loaded in the tempos that were there at Dharmakshetra, the message seemed to sink in, that after a glorious 48 hours of bliss and incessant activity, Dharmakshetra would be shortly bidding her Master farewell. As the guests and the students� cars started slowly leaving the gates of Dharmakshetra, onwards to the Mumbai airport, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra arrived to personally escort Bhagawan to the airport.   Click: Photos Bhagawan’s Departure from Mumbai The devotees� hearts were already saddened by the awareness that Bhagawan would shortly be leaving their city to head back to the abode of Eternal Peace. They lined up on both sides of the pathway to get their one last Darshan in Mumbai. Soon at about 2.45pm, Bhagawan�s car left the gates of Satyadeep, down the long, slope of Dharmakshetra, followed by His convoy of over 15 cars heading to Chatrapathi Shivaji International Airport . His smiling face as He gave His last darshan in Mumbai was the sole consolation to many a weeping heart and eye gathered there. Mumbai�s devotees felt a vacuum and Dharmakshetra bore a desolate look. A huge silence hung in the air and the only prayer on all lips was for Swami to come back soon again!”   Click: Photos Bhagawan’s Departure from Mumbai Bhagawan arrived at the Airport at 0315 Hrs. escorted by the Chief Minister. …And The Divine Chariot lifted off at around 3:55 p.m. bidding farewell to Mumbai City… Photos Bhagawan’s Departure from Mumbai   click to enlarge Yes, The Lord returned to Prasanthi, but not before leaving “Himself” at Pune and Mumbai, etched in the hearts of thousands upon thousands. Reflecting the upbeat mood during His presence and the vacuum after His departure, an active worker commented: Mumbai has had a drought of His darshan for 9 years and we thought of making up for all that lost time�we practically made Him live the life of a Mumbaikar. We work sixteen hours on an average but Bhagawan works incessantly. Yes, He works incessantly�and He loves us abundantly�It was His overpowering love for Mumbai that was seen in action for the last three days and Mumbai literally basked in His glory and so was the Sai Fraternity!!! Photo source: sssbpt.org – layout design saibabaofindia.com   Prasanthi This Week - ending 1st Nov 2009 The week that went past clearly belonged to Maharashtra, precisely to Pune and Mumbai as it was the Puneites and Mumbaikars who were privileged to bask in His Divine All Conquering Love, when Bhagawan embarked on a week-long visit to the twin cities. 28th October was Pune’s scheduled date with Divinity and the city was blushing like a bride in eager anticipation of her Lord’s imminent presence. Taking off at 8:30 a.m. in a chartered Jet Airliner, with an entourage comprising fifty members, that included students, senior devotees and ‘family’ members, Bhagawan’s Air Chariot touched down the Pune Airport at 9:40 a.m. for a grand reception led by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Sri Ashok Chavan and former Union Home Minister Sri Shivaraj Patil. Summing up the first half of Bhagawan’s week-long visit to Pune and Mumbai someone reflected it as “His Celebration of Jadhav’s Love”. True to the saying “God’s Delays are Not God’s Denials”, fulfilling the long cherished desire coupled with fervent prayers of the Jadhavs and the Puneites, Divinity encased in human frame, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba blessed the Peshwa City with abundance, with abundance of His Love, all by His gracious presence for three full days! Thousands upon thousands thronged to have a glimpse of The Lord in physical. It was indeed the fructification of the Jadhavs’ unparalleled devotion and surrender to Bhagawan. …And the blessed village Hadshi in Pune is now blessed with a Divine Abode, Sri Sathya Sai Panduranga Kshetra! It was celebration galore for the next three days with Bhagawan visiting the house of His host twice, attending cultural programmes, sanctifying the triune temple and delivering an electrifying Divine Discourse besides officiating the Poornahuthi of the Yajna that had been going on, on the sidelines of His Divine Visit. Now, Sri Sathya Sai Panduranga Kshetra stands majestic, blissfully radiating a pristine aura, induced by the gracious presence of her Lord! Enlightening Divine Discourse The enlightening Divine Discourse, the only one during the entire sojourn, started off in Bhagawan’s inimitable style hailing Bharat and her cultural heritage. The discourse was full of Bhagawan’s regular adages divulging topics into His timeless teachings exhorting one and all to raise to the level of Divine Consciousness. Bhagawan spoke about a life of love – not to criticize anyone and to correct one’s own faults rather than pointing fingers at others. He also spoke about the oneness of all beings and also stressed that our life has to be His message. Concluding the Discourse Bhagawan said: “…If anybody does good, follow it. This is the message of Baba to everyone today. The whole world should be happy. Let all the beings be happy”. The Divine Discourse was translated into English and Maratti simultaneously. The Divine Discourse was preceded by three speeches by Mr. Jadhav, the Divine host at Hadshi, Mr. V.Srinivasan, All India President of SSSSO followed by Sri Nishikant Barodekar, faculty, Sri Sathya Sai Mirpuri College of Music. Showing Omnipresence? In His Divine Discourse, Bhagawan also spoke about compassion for all living beings. He particularly mentioned snakes and scorpions and said that these creatures don’t attack unnecessarily. They attack only because they fear us humans. Here is a tag to the above Divine remark. Interestingly, a day prior to Bhagawan’s Discourse, a snake was spotted close to the music and lights equipment. The men feared it would get into their equipment so they contemplated killing it. However, two lady devotees stopped them, and instead caught the scared snake in some cushion covers, and handed it to another lady devotee who offered to release it. The lady devotees cautioned small crowd that had gathered around the snake that Bhagawan would never like anyone killing it. And there came His Divine Discourse and an “off-the-cuff” remark about compassion for living beings… He gave His speech and spoke about snakes and scorpions! It is coincidental for the ordinary, but indeed ‘Saicidental’ for the Beloved Almighty Omnipresent Lord! (Incidentally, Sri Sathya Sai Pandurang Kshetra is teeming with snake holes, but there was not even a single case of a snake bite reported. It was as though the snake(s) were charmed by the Lord and were content with His blissful darshan…) Parting Scenes Three full days of merriments and celebrations and the 31st morning dawned with the blushing bride that she was, Pune, getting herself set to bid farewell to her Beloved Lord! The Lord was set to leave for Mumbai for the second leg of His Divine visit. …And Bhagawan left the Panduranga Kshetra at around 10.45 a.m. with villagers lined up in a disciplined manner giving The Lord a “Guard of Honour “along the entrance and road leading towards Lonavala. One could see the winding procession, the Divine Caravan comprising of motorbikes, two cars with security guards, Bhagawan’s car and a string of 20 cars following. A parting Blessing from The Lord, an Abhayahastha and the convoy sped on, towards an eagerly awaiting Mumbai and His Divie Abode atop the hills in Andheri East, Dharmakshetra. Over to Mumbai Speeding past the six lane track Pune – Mumbai Express Highway, Bhagawan reached Dharmakshetra just before 14:00 Hrs. to a grand ceremonial welcome. Over hundred motorcyclists escorted Bhagawan during the journey till official escort equivalent to that of the President of India took over the charge. It was after a long 9-10 years that Bhagawan was setting His Feet at the holy precincts of His Divine Abode, Dharmakshetra. Mumbai witnessed three public programmes, first one at the NSE grounds, Goregaon wherein singer of repute, Sonu Nigam enthralled the Divine with his melodious rendering; the second programme was at Jamboori Maidan, Worli followed by the final programme at Brabourne Stadium, Churchgate wherein the grateful students of Sri Sathya Sai University transported one and all to heavenly heights with their enrapturing devotional numbers. Banking on Baba While high-profile dignitaries made a beeline to receive blessings from Bhagawan, it was the Chief Minister’s special privilege to have Him at his official residence, Varsha at Malabar Hill, for a private session blessing the family and close aids. Later Bhagawan paid a visit to the State Home Minister, Jayant Patil’s residence as well, acceding to his prayers. Earlier on the first day of His visit, Bhagawan blessed the doyen of SSSSO, Indulal Shah’s residence at Khar West with His Divine visit. Following up with the high profile conference on “Ethics and World of Finance” held in Prasanthi Nilayam during October, top shots from the industry converged yet again in the Dharmakshetra complex Banking on His Blessings. Some of the prominent names attended the function were Former ICICI Bank Chairman, KV Kamath, the Chairman and MD of the Union Bank of India, MV Nair, Kotak Bank’s Vice-Chairman and MD, Uday Kotak, Gunit Chadha, the head of Deutsche Bank’s India operations, PMS Prasad, a director on the board of Reliance Industries (RIL), India’s largest private sector company, and Meera Sanyal, CEO, RBS/ABN Amro Bank and an independent candidate from the South Mumbai parliamentary constituency and Bodhisatva Ganguly, Dy. Chief Editor of nation’s premier financial daily, The Economic Times. Who’s Who? Other who’s who thronged to have a glimpse of Bhagawan included former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and currently Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Chairman, Tata Group, Ratan Tata, Bollywood singers of fame, Hariharan, Sonu Nigam and Kunal Ganjawala, Santoor exponent Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma, Bollywood Hero Salman Khan’s sister and Bollywood Actress, Alvira Khan Agnihotri and famous Fashion Designer Saina NC, daughter of former Sheriff of Mumbai, Nana Chudasama apart from the high-profile names from the banking sector. The Chief Minister’s residence had a huge chunk of VVIP devotees that included former Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, senior NCP leader Praful Patel, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee chief Manikrao Thakre, Mumbai Congress unit president Kripa Shankar Singh, State Legislative Council chairman Shivajirao Deshmukh, industrialist Ashok Hinduja and leading builder Niranjan Hiranandani. The outgoing Home Minister Jayant Patil also played host to Bhagawan. Bollywood actress Rani Mukherjee and Cricketing Legend Sunil Gavaskar were also present during the occasion offering salutations to Bhagawan. Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust gets felicitated In appreciation of the key role played by the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust in disaster reconstruction in the post flood situation in Orissa, the Orissa State Disaster Management Authority, a Govt. of Orissa Agency felicitated the SSSCT in a state level programme organized at Jayadev Bhavan, Bhubaneshwar on the 29th October. Mr. K.Chakravarthi, Secretary, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, received the felicitation from the hands of the Chief Minister, Mr. Naveen Patnaik on behalf of the Trust. The function was organized coinciding the Orissa Disaster Preparedness Day and the National Day for Disaster Reduction. In the meantime even during Bhagawan’s physical absence, Prasanthi was full of life with fairly good crowd staying back inducing ‘life’ in Ashram …and the last couple of days become vibrant with the return of University and school students after a ten day long winter vacation. With the Akhanda Bhajan scheduled for next week followed by ensuing 84th Birthday celebrations, students from the Brindavan campus also returned to Prasanthi Nilayam wherein they would be having regular classes for the first half of November. Yes, the week ended leaving Bhagawan in Mumbai…and Prasanthi was bustling with enthusiasm at the imminence of her Beloved’s return, due for the first day of the following week. Home Photo source: sssbpt.org – layout design saibabaofindia.com

“Knowledge comes alive only thru practice.” –Upanishads

“Whether young, old or too old, sick or lean, one who discards laziness gets success if he practices Yoga.  Success comes to him who is engaged in the practice; for by merely reading books on Yoga, one can never get success.  Success cannot be attained by adopting a particular dress.  It cannot be gained by telling tales.  Practice alone is the means of success.”  – Svatmarama, Hatha Yoga Pradipika

“Anyone who practices can obtain success in yoga but not one who is lazy.  Constant practice alone is the secret of success.” -Svatmarama, Hatha Yoga Pradipika

“Practice is the instrument of liberation, O Goddess.  Bookish scholarship is not such an instrument.  Scholarship (shastra) is everywhere readily available, but practice is very difficult to accomplish.” – Vina-Shikha-Tantra

“Yoga is 99% practice and 1% theory.” -Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois

“If we practice the science of yoga, which is useful to the entire human community and which yields happiness both here and hereafter – if we practice it without fail, we will then attain physical, mental, and spiritual happiness, and our minds will flood towards the Self.” -Sri K. Pattabhi Jois

“Do your practice and all is coming.” – Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois

“Before you’ve practiced, the theory is useless. After you’ve practiced, the theory is obvious.”  -David Williams

“No one is wise by birth, for wisdom results from one’s own efforts.” –Krishnamacharya

“Practice is the repeated effort to follow the discipline which gives permanent control of the thought waves of the mind.  Practice becomes firmly grounded when it has been cultivated for a long time, uninterruptedly, with earnest devotion.” –Yoga Sutras

“Achievement comes through effort.” –Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

“It is what you are inwardly that matters.  Your inner peace and joy you have to earn.  It is much more difficult than earning money.  No university can teach you to be yourself.  The only way to learn is by practice.” –Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

“The obstacles to wisdom are deeply affected by practice.” –Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

A Swami, a Rabbi, an Imam, a Tenzin, a layperson, and a Reverend walk into a bar…

Sounds like the beginning of a joke!

But no.

TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is an organisation dedicated to Ideas Worth Spreading. And this idea is very cool.

What they’ve assembled are six different perspectives on the topic of compassion. With – you guessed it – a Swami, a Rabbi, an Imam, a Tenzin, a layperson, and a Reverend.

• Swami Dayananda Saraswati: The profound journey of compassion
• Rabbi Jackie Tabick: The balancing act of compassion
• Imam Faisal Abdul Rauf: Lose your ego, find your compassion
• Tenzin Robert Thurman: Expanding your circle of compassion
• Robert Wright: The evolution of compassion
• Reverend James Forbes: Compassion at the dinner table

Some I found easier to relate to than others, but they are all wonderful discussions on compassion.

Of course, compassion has to start with ourselves. True compassion becomes a part of who you are, not like a jacket you clothe yourself in at will, applied sporadically.

But as Swami Dayananda puts it (paraphrased)… to learn to swim you must swim… in order to be compassionate you must act with compassion… and you fake it til you make it!

Also, check out the Charter for Compassion – a brand new inter-faith initiative looking at how to develop world-wide compassion…

The Charter seeks to change the conversation so that compassion becomes a key word in public and private discourse, making it clear that any ideology that breeds hatred or contempt ~ be it religious or secular ~ has failed the test of our time.

This is all good stuff for contemplating how we treat ourselves and others. And hopefully, a little more ammunition for learning to make peace with ourselves. 

~Svasti

Thousands Throng Hadshi To See Sai Baba
TNN 31 October 2009, 06:25am IST

PUNE: Thousands of people thronged the village of Hadshi, about 60 km from here, on Friday for a darshan of spiritual leader Sri Sathya Sai Baba, who has been in the village for the last three days.

The spiritual leader’s appearance on the stage near the village led to loud shouts of ‘Sai Ram’.

Chief minister Ashok Chavan’s wife Amita Chavan and former Union minister Shivraj Patil were among the politicians and eminent personalities who have come to the little village on Friday to visit Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

During the three-day discourse, other politicians, including ministers Patangrao Kadam, Harshvardhan Patil and Dilip Deshmukh also sought darshan.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba is expected to leave for Mumbai on October 31.

On Friday, people began gathering at the venue hours before the actual programme started, wherein child stars of a reality show performed a few devotional songs. There were also a number of foreigners among the crowd, who clapped and hummed bhajans along with others.

For Yamuna Deodhar, a resident of Mahad, the trip from her town about 100 km away was one she would always remember simply because she got what she wanted. “A darshan of Swamiji was something I had never expected to take place, so this is definitely a dream come true,” she said.

For Mukund Mule, a financial consultant from Sangamner, it was the social work of Sathya Sai Baba that inspired him to become his devotee. “He and his followers are working for the betterment of the society and the deprived class. I respect that,” he said.

Echoing the same sentiments Sunil Ahire said that he has come for the spiritual discourse after hearing about the work carried out by Sathya Sai Baba’s various organisations. “I have come to this spiritual discourse for the first time. I wanted to listen to the thoughts of Baba and this was a good opportunity for me since the programme is taking place very close to my village,” said Ahire, a resident of Paud village.

Some politicians had come along with their families and were staying near the venue for the last three days. “I had heard his spiritual discourse in the late eighties for the first time. Since then I have been following Baba’s discourses for more than 20 years. I regularly visit his ashram in Puttaparthi,” said Dayanand Londhe, sarpanch of Malad, Baramati, and a former member of zilla parishad.

Times Of India Reference

Young Devotees Wowed By Sathya Sai Baba
The youth were captivated by the guru’s message of love and respect for mankind
By Vishakha Sharma
Posted On Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 02:38:20 AM

Hundreds of devotees of Sathya Sai Baba in the city gathered to catch a glimpse and listen to their revered guru from Wednesday, October 28 to Friday, October 30. Pune Mirror spoke to some of Sathya Sai Baba’s devotees who told us of their experience.

Aloka Deane-Chinnayya (30) felt blessed to have met Sathya Sai Baba. She said, “It was an amazing experience meeting him. He taught us how important it is to love and respect mankind. The love he shared with all the people here is unbelievable. He spoke to everybody in a lay man’s terms so everyone could understand. He taught us some phrases which we should use in our lives like help ever, hurt never and love all, serve all.” We also found some young devotees at Baba’s darshan and they were equally happy.

19-year-old Vrushali Swatantramath said, “Meeting him felt like meeting god. Just like all his devotees were happy, Swami was happy too. It was wonderful to have him with us.”

16-year-old Ragini Ramachandran, recollected an old memory and shared it with Mirror. She said, “When I was three years old, my father had this drinking habit which he would not leave. One day, my mother and I decided to attend Swami’s bhajans and asked my father to join us. He refused saying he did not believe in him. So the two of us went. But later, my father called up, asked us for the bhajan’s venue and attended it. He was sitting in the last row and refused to meet Swami. But after coming home he had a transformation and quit drinking. Sathya Sai Baba spreads the message of love and helps transforming people for their better,” added Ragini.

Pune Mirror Reference

Chavan To Tee Off After Sathya Sai Baba’s Intervention
28 Oct 2009, 0502 hrs IST, Girish Kuber, ET Bureau

MUMBAI: This sunday, Varsha, the Maharashtra chief minister’s official residence, will have a rather unusual visitor. The house that’s familiar with political bickering and has witnessed many a deal, will wear a saffron, spiritual look as Sathya Sai Baba will visit Varsha to bless his disciple Ashok Chavan. It’s the first time that the state will officially host a guru.

Chief minister Ashok Chavan has always been very forthcoming about his admiration for the Baba. Every time he finds himself in a crisis, Mr Chavan makes a trip to Puttuparthy in Andhra Pradesh, the Baba’s abode. This time, too, soon after votes were polled for the state assembly election, Mr Chavan was at the Baba’s doorstep to seek his blessings for a political battle that later went in his favour.

As a mark of gratitude, the state chief minister is learnt to have invited Baba to his official residence. Top officials from the state administration confirmed this to ET, requesting anonymity. A dedicated website, which tracks Satya Sai Baba’s movements, has also announced a meeting of a spiritual sect head with the head of the state this Sunday. “On November 1, Sathya Sai Baba will give a discourse at Gandhi Maidan, Worli Naka, South Mumbai at around 11 am and then lunch at the residence of Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan, who was blessed to be the CM again as his Congress won with a big margin,” the website proclaimed.

Before arriving at the state’s centre of power, he will also bless the newly-constructed Bandra Worli Sea Link by travelling over it. “Bhagawan’s car will also definitely grace the new Bandra-Worli sea link where balloons will be released by the Balvikas children of Mumbai. South Mumbai being the financial hub of the city, many top businessmen and corporate leaders will grace the occasion at both the venues in Mumbai,” the website said.

This may be Sathya Sai Baba’s first visit to the state’s chief minister’s residence. But he is no stranger to Congress politicians. In fact, former prime minister the late Narasimha Rao was one amongst his most prominent devotees.

Economic Times Reference

Also see:
- Sathya Sai Baba To Visit Hadshi And Mumbai

Sundararupaya – Old Rare Pictures Of Baba III

Sathya Sai Baba Old Photograph

Sathya Sai Baba: Death comes swooping like the falcon on chicken feeding on the ground. The man who dies, prays to Me to receive him. The person who weeps at his departure prays to Me to keep him alive. I know both sides of the picture, the past and the present, the crime and the punishment, the achievement and the reward and so I carry out what is just, though modified by Grace. I am not affected in any way, by arrival into the world of some or departure from it of some others. My nature is Nityanandam. You can share that Anandam by following My instructions and practising what I say.

Sathya Sai Baba Rare Photo

Sathya Sai Baba: Some of you may ask why there should be a Hospital at all here? Why should not Baba cure diseases by an exercise of His will? That is the question. Well, for one thing, this Hospital is not My only Hospital. Hanumantha Rao has a Hospital in Madras where disabled children are treated and trained to be useful and self respecting individuals. That too is My Hospital. In fact all Hospitals, everywhere are Mine. I visit them all. Why, all those who call out from their hearts for succor in whatever language, form whatever climate whether from hospitals or home, are Mine. Do not confine Me to these few acres round the Prasanthi Nilayam. Wherever a person craving for Prasanthi, lives and prays, there a Prasanthi Nilayam exists.

Rare Image Of Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai Baba: There is no Sathyam without Sivam, there is no Sivam without Sundaram. Truth alone can confer Mangalam and Mangalam alone is the real beauty. Truth is beauty. Joy is beauty. Falsehood and grief are ugly because they are unnatural. Buddhi, Chittam and Hrudayam, these are the three centers in the individual where resides Jnana, Karma and Bhakthi. The effulgence of Sathyam will reveal Sivam. Do Karma which is approved by the higher wisdom, not Karma which is born of ignorance. Then all Karma will be Sivam, auspicious, beneficial, and blessed. The experience of that Sivam is what is called Sundaram. For it confers real Ananda. That is My reality. That is why My life is named “Sathyam, Sivam, Sundaram”.

Rare Photo Of Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai Baba: No trace of fear can tarnish the purity of the heart that is shining in the splendour of truth. I am Sathya Sai. Like the name Sesha Sai with which God is known as one who is based on, who reclines on the massive coils of the poisonous snake Sesha, the meanig of Sathya Sai is one who is based on Truth. Truth knows no defeat, Truth knows no fear. It marches on heedless of acclamation or declamation.

Rare Photograph Of Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai Baba: In rendering service, there should be unity of heart, head and hands. Only then service becomes sanctified. The significance of the three letters in SAI should be understood. ‘S’ stands for Service. ‘A’ stands for Adoration. ‘I’ stands for Illumination. These three represent Karma, Bhakthi and Jnana respectively. Sai teaches these three. All the three concepts are equally important. Sai is the combination of three spiritual paths of Action, Devotion and Wisdom. Just as the Pranava sound is made up of the three letters ‘A’, ‘U’,'M’, “SAI” stands for the triple forms of spiritual sadhana.

Rare Pic Of Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai Baba: I am not affected by either joy or sorrow. Mine is Samadhi or Intelligence which is Sama (steady), unaffected, unchanging wisdom.

Rare Picture Of Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai Baba: Where money is calculated, garnered and exhibited to demonstrate one’s achievements, I will not be present there. I come only to places where sincerity, faith and surrender are valued. So spend the silent hours in meditation and Namasmarana in your own homes and deepen faith. I do not need Bhajans, which like gramophone records reproduce songs and Namavalis, without any feeling or yearning while singing. Hours of shouting is not needed, a moment of concentrated heartfelt prayer, is enough to melt and move God.

- Visit The Sathya Sai Baba Official Website

Also see:
- Sundararupaya – Old Rare Pictures Of Baba II
- Sundararupaya – Old Rare Pictures Of Baba I

	Photos: Swami’s residence – Hadshi temple, Sri Sathya Sai Pandurang Kshetra and surroundings
	Bhagawan to visit Mumbai – Final Programme Sai Baba Travel updates Submitted messages Interview with Sri Jadhavji of SSS Pandurang Kshetra Bhagawan’s Visit to Hadshi & Mumbai – Programmes (Pdf Format) Hadshi Route Map (Pdf Format)
	Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Visit to State of Maharashtra – October 09
	It is with immense pleasure to inform you all, dear respected elders, brothers and sisters, that Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has graciously consented to visit the State of Maharashtra. Bhagawan will visit Hadshi via Pune. Hadshi is a village located about 45 minutes drive from Lonavala. Bhagawan will be in Hadshi for four days from 28th October to 31st October, 2009, and will leave on the morning of 31st October, 2009, for Puttaparthi via Mumbai. This is just a tentative programme and the final confirmed programme will be communicated in due course. LATEST UPDATE: SWAMI’S SCHEDULE DURING HIS VISIT TO PUNE & MUMBAI “…The stage is all Set for Swami’s departure to Pune for the inauguration of the Sri Sathya Sai Panduranga Kshetra temple in Hadsi 40 kms from Pune..It is said that He will be leaving Parthi on 28th October around 8:30am in a charted flight that has capacity of 70 people. He will be taking 40 to 50 senior devotees apart from some students..Read on>> Devotees of Bhagawan from Pune, Mumbai and other neighboring areas are really fortunate to receive Bhagawan after his last visit to Mumbai in June, 2000. Bhagawan’s visit will surely recharge the entire State of Maharashtra. In Hadshi, Bhagawan will stay at the Sri Sathya Sai Pandurang Kshetra, situated in a remote village atop a hill, close to Pawana Lake and nestled in beautiful scenic surroundings. Also read: messages by Sai devotees on this subject, sent to saibabaofindia-group The address of the location is as under; Sri Sathya Sai Pandurang Kshetra At: Hadshi, Post: Kashig Paud-Lonavala Road, Mulshi, Dist Pune It is notable to mention here that with the Blessings of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the Western Zone Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vikas Guru’s Master Training Camp was held recently in the womb of Mother Nature at this hallowed place, from 9th May, 2009 to 18th May, 2009. The states covered under the Western Zone comprised of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh where the trainees were lodged for 9 days for their intensive training camp. The Inaugural Function was graced by Mr. Shivajirao Jadhav and Mrs Meera Jadhav. The trainees who had participated in this camp were simply delighted at the beautiful, serene and majestic surroundings of Pandurang Kshetra. Video 1 - Video 2 - Video 3 - Video 4 4 Latest video clips from Prasanthi Nilayam Videos Divine Visit to the General Hospital, Prasanthi Nilayam -4th Oct 2009 Kindly note that those devotees who are starting from Pune, the Sri Sathya Sai Pandurang Kshetra, Hadshi is about 40 kms away from Pune. PROGRAM DURING HADSHI VISIT OF BHAGAWAN SRI SATHYA SAI BABA Wednesday, 28th October 2009 12.00 Noon Welcome to Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba at Sri Sathya Sai Pandurang Kshetra (Hadshi, Paud-Lonavala Road, Taluka-Mulshi, District-Pune), by Dindi Procession From Ganesha Temple 1.00 P.M. Mahaprasad 5.00 P.M. Bhajan and Darshan Devotioinal Musicial Programme by: Smt. Kavita Krishnamurthy, Shri Nitin Mukesh, Ms. Sapna Mukherjee Thursday, 29th October 2009 9.00 A.M. Murthi Sthapana and Pranprathistha of Lord Siddhivinayak, Sri Shirdi Sai Baba and Sri Vitthal Rukmini at Divine Hands of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba 5.00 P.M. Bhajan, Darshan and Public Meeting Friday, 30th October 2009 9.00 A.M. Bhajan and Darshan 5.00 P.M. Abhang Vani by Little Champs Saturday, 31th October 2009 8.00 A.M. Bhajan and Darshan Departure to Mumbai PROGRAM DURING MUMBAI VISIT OF BHAGAWAN SRI SATHYA SAI BABA Saturday, 31st October 2009 Bhajan and Darshan at 4.00 p.m. at Bombay Exhibition Centre, N.S.E. Complex, Hall No.1, Western Express Highway, Goregaon (East), Mumbai – 400063. All are welcome Sunday, 1st November 2009 Bhajan and Darshan at 10.00 a.m. at Gandhi Maidan (Jamboori Maidan), G. M. Bhosle Marg, Opp. B.D.D. Chawls, Worli Naka, Mumbai – 400018. All are welcome Courtesy: dharmakshetra.org.in

]]> http://konkanikesari.com/2009/10/14/tribute-to-my-role-models/ Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:13:46 +0000 nimmubangalore http://konkanikesari.com/2009/10/14/tribute-to-my-role-models/

The following article is meant to encourage the younger generation to research and write about their own family history. As families become more diverse and dispersed all over the planet, it becomes even more important that children (and even adults) know about their ancestors.

Every day should be Mothers’ Day and Fathers’ Day. This Mothers’ Day (May 11), I started to pen some thoughts regarding my parents (Dr. Vasant R. and Mrs. Uma Koppikar), but life intruded and I did not complete my piece to honor them. One awful summer in 1978, we were devastated by my father’s fatal heart attack on July 2. Within a couple of months (Sept. 3) my mother lost her brave fight against leukemia. Doubly mourning, numb with shock, we could barely function. All 5 sisters (I am the second) consoled each other, drew strength from our spouses, and managed to live through bereavement. Sadly, the third of the daughters, Padmini Rao, succumbed to multiple myeloma in Sept. 2006. This article is dedicated to her memory, with thanks to her husband, B. Udayanand Rao for being such a dedicated care-giver.

In the preface to “Manache Shloka” (24 Feb. 2000), His Holiness Sadyojat Shankarashram Swamiji writes “Our Parama Guru, Swami Anandashram used to speak of three Shankars in our community. They were Justice K. Shankarnarayan Rao, HSR (H Shankar Rau) and A.V. Shankar Rao.” I am proud to call the first-named Shankar my maternal grandfather. He bequeathed to us a precious legacy of caring and sharing which we hope to pass on to future generations. My parents were karma-yogis and are my role models. They touched many lives and helped make this world a better place. Even after 30 years, people remember my parents and speak respectfully of them. They express gratitude for their kindnesses: e.g., being surrogate parents to homesick young brides, assisting families over rough patches, lending a helping hand in financial crises, and simply being there when needed. All this was done quietly, unobtrusively, and with no strings attached. We grew up surrounded by warmth and affection, compassion for the less fortunate, and kindness and consideration for all. Our household was the opposite of the “himTee” (miserly, penny-pinching) reputation attached to Koppikars.  Indeed my parents were generous almost to a fault. Hardly a day went by when they were no guests. Doors were open and no alms-seekers were turned away. Midway between Mumbai/Pune and southern destinations such as Shirali, Mangalore, Bangalore, travelers would halt in Belgaum and were treated as part of the family. If there were people travelling with no stops, my mother brought tiffin carriers full of home-made food to them. Rather than purchasing a railway platform ticket each time, she would buy a season pass for convenience. On the off chance that someone may come in on a late bus etc., extra food was put aside. She followed the tradition of her parents’ home (nicknamed “Liberty Hall”) where many young men from smaller places lived to complete their education, and generosity was the byword. My paternal grandparents also created a haven. A well-known ophthalmic surgeon, Dr. Ramdas Koppikar was also a reputed dentist, and patented and manufactured affordable medicines.

My parents’ house was “KuLaar” (Parents’ place) for everybody, regardless of gender or age. Entire families would come over if one person had eye surgery. My father was the official opthalmologist to our revered Swamijis. Rich and poor alike were treated with equal care. Patients with modest incomes sometimes voluntarily paid in kind. He was one of the few to treat inmates of the missionary leper colony. He set up one of the first eye banks in that part of the world and participated in the Lions Club, cooperating in vaccination drives, fundraisers, eyeglasses for the needy, etc. Even after death he kept on giving the gift of sight via organ donation. His corneas have been successfully implanted in 2 individuals.

My mother was his partner in all ways, from helping him at his clinic to working side-by-side for deserving causes. She taught Hindi to poor children, found homes for neglected kids, helped unwed mothers, and volunteered for the Red Cross. Many a bride was given a mangal-sutra and a sari for her wedding if the parents could not afford these marriage must-haves. It was a warm and jolly household, filled with laughter, brimming with art projects in various stages of completion, observation of festivals, etc. Along with good food and fragrant filter coffee, classical music and dancing, books in various languages, Winsor and Newton paints, easels, beads, embroidery hoops and colorful yarns were part and parcel of our lives. Encouraging our hobbies, tolerant and non-judgmental, forgiving our childish transgressions, my mother let each of us pursue our interests in our own fashion with no pressures. She was ahead of her time and was a true feminist. The best advice she gave us was that we should be self-sufficient, see the bright side of everything, that every individual has something they excel at and can share, and that we should walk in another’s shoes before criticizing.

We grew up believing that beauty is skin-deep and actions speak louder than words. “Handsome is as handsome does” is a motto we still strive to live by. Though he brought us up with firm discipline, my father advised us not to take ourselves too seriously and find humor in everyday situations. “Even if everyone around you is goofing off, do your work diligently and do the right thing. Remember good actions as well as bad ones have consequences, so behave accordingly.” We got an education for life, one which no school or university can ever offer. They taught us by example as well as precept. I can never forget how, even during her terminal illness, my mother treated the visiting Ranisahebs of Kurundwad and Sawantwadi with the same courtesy as the humble “bhaajiwalis” (vegetable sellers) whose produce she bought. Nor can I forget how, on the heels of my marriage expenses, my father emptied out his savings account so I could join my husband in the U.S. after the rupee was devalued and my own tiny savings as a college lecturer got swallowed up. These were lessons in grace under fire.

My father was born in Karwar. Educated in Karwar, Dharwar, Mumbai and London, he got married to K[undapur] Uma Rao. After a distinguished career in the Indian Army Medical Corps, he worked for the government touring seven districts with a mobile unit. He settled down in Belgaum and made a name for himself in his profession as well as social work. Born in Shimoga, brought up in Bangalore, my mother married at the tender age of 14. She was yanked away from her loving home and parents (K. Shakarrnarayan and Mrs. K. Shyambhavi Rao). The sheltered teenage bride had to cope with the vagaries of being an Army wife. Together my parents accomplished the tough job of bringing up 5 daughters, educating them, finding husbands for each and marrying them off. My father used to joke that they only got the “Pancha kanya” portion of the traditional marriage blessing and ignored the “Ashta-putra” part! (After a Hindu wedding, the priest blesses the newlyweds and prays that they will have healthy kids: 8 sons and 5 daughters and have a happy married life) Though they had no sons, they gained 5 great sons-in-law. Today, scattered over 3 continents, they have 9 accomplished grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

My second son (Dr. Samir Bangalore) met and married a brilliant corporate lawyer, Sheila, granddaughter of my father’s friend and fellow ophthalmic surgeon, Dr. (M.) Ramanath Bhandari. Among all the eligible matches, he chose this gem of a young woman to join our family. What an amazing coincidence!

I thank God for this and all His Blessings. If we can pass on even a minuscule portion of the values they brought us up with, we will truly honor the memory of my parents. May their souls rest in peace!