Sathya Sai Baba was laid to rest in a private funeral ceremony at the Prashanti Nilayam ashram in his home town Puttaparthi. As per custom Sai Baba was buried not cremated. Devotees in Mumbai joined in to pay their respects.
Om Sri Sai Ram Friday’s Parayan The people of Shirdi while doing their daily chores used to sing Baba’s praise. They were blessed. They considered Sai to be God. One day Baba lost in the wrestling game of khushti against Thamboli and as per the rules of the game he had to leave Shirdi and live in another place for a few days. During this period Baba would wander in the jungles and Baijabai, an elderly lady, would go searching for him with homemade food. Sai Baba remembered Baijabai’s devotion and took care of her son Tatya all his life. On his return to Shirdi, Baba started go around Shridi begging for food. Baba would visit about two or three and from the food received he would eat a little and the rest he used to distribute to the poor. He used to say that he was the servant of the devotees. Once a devotee by the name Nanavali ordered Baba to get down from his throne and he went and sat on the same and after a while got up and went away. Baba did not mind Nanavali’s behaviour at all and without any hesitation his Bhakta’s desire to sit on the throne to be fulfilled. Baba never expected anything from anybody and was always sympathetic to everyone. One day while Mrs Tharakad, another devotee of Baba, was having lunch a dog came to her door. Mrs.Tharakad gave him some of her food and appeased the hunger of the dog. Afterwards when Mrs. Tharakad met Baba at the Masjid, Baba said “ you appeased my hunger and you fed me well.” By this Baba wanted to convey to her that the hunger of the dog and his hunger were not different and whoever feeds the hungry and then eats himself will achieve salvation. Who ever sees me in every living being is my true devotee, Baba told Mrs. Tharakad. Once Govind Balaram Bhaskar who was on his way Shirdi met Mrs.Tharakad. Mrs Tharakad gave him a Peda and requested him to give it to Baba. On reaching Shirdi, Govind Balaram Bhaskar forgot about the Peda and remembered only when Baba asked him for the peda. Baba eagerly ate the peda like he was waiting for it for a long time. Sai Baba used to sleep in the Dwarkamai on a small wooden plank presented by a devotee by the name of Dengle. The plank was hung from the roof with the help of strings made of rags and people who saw it wondered how Baba managed to sleep on the plank and they would often gather at night to watch Baba sleep. One day a crowd gathered to watch Baba sleep, Baba pulled the plank and broke it into pieces and threw it into the burning dhuni. Sai Baba knew the past, present and future of his Bhaktas. Kaka Mahajani who had come to Shirdi to stay for a week was asked by Baba to leave for his home town immediately. On his return Kaka Mahajani found that he was urgently needed by his employer as the manager of the firm had fallen sick. Dhumal, a pleader in the village, came to see Baba on his way to the court and was asked by Baba to stay and not leave Shirdi for a week. When Dhumal went to the court a week later he came to know that the case had been postponed for a week. Once Tatya Patil ignoring Baba’s advice left for the mandi and he met with an accident when his horse cart toppled over and his horse suffered a sprain. Tatya also received minor injuries and had to call of his trip to the mandi. Once a foreigner came for Baba’s darshan and he was asked to sit on the floor. The foreigner felt insulted and wanted to leave Shridi immediately. Baba read his mind and asked him to stay back for one more day. But the foreigner ignored Baba’s advice and left Shirdi. He met with an accident and had stay in hospital for some time. One day Baba informed his devotees that he would wear the orange robe that day. The people there did not get the meaning of what Baba meant by orange robes. In the evening a Nasik Brahmin by the name Mule Shastri offered flowers to Baba and as he was prostrating before Baba he saw his Guru Dholup Swamy where Baba was standing. When Mule Shastri got up he saw Baba again standing in front of him. Similarly, to a doctor who was a Ramabhakta Baba appeared as his guru Sri Ramachandra Murti. Baba would always advise the people in Shirdi to stay united and live in harmony irrespective of the religion they followed. God will always save you, try to achieve salvation, without achieving the salvation life is meaningless, Baba would say. He would ask his devotees to forgive those who hurt them and to help each other. Once during summer holidays Mrs.Tharakad came to Shirdi. One day when Mrs Tharakad came to the Masjid for Baba’s darshan, Baba told her that he had been to her house in Bandra that day but there was nothing there for him to eat. Everyday Mrs. Tharakad would offer Naivedya to the photo of Sai Baba at her shrine in the house in Bandra. However, while she was away at Shirdi, Mr. Tharakad had forgotten to offer Naivediya. Thus, Baba informed his devotees that the puja to the picture is doing puja to him in person. Baba was omniscient and he experienced the love of his devotees and tasted the food offered by them even when they were far away from him. Sai Baba never allowed anyone to put sandal paste on his forehead, but one day one Dr.Pandit applied sandal paste on Baba’s forehead and Baba did not object. Seeing this people asked Baba why did not object to Dr.Pandit’s action. To this Baba replied that Dr. Pandit saw him as his own guru Raghunath maharaj thus he did not object. Dr. Pandit later confirmed this by saying he saw his guru Raghunath maharaj in Baba. Sai Baba used to chant God’s name and used to distribute the sacred ash – vibhuti to people. The vibhuti cured even those diseases that were thought to be incurable. Bimaji Patil once contracted tuberculosis and it became so severe that he began to vomit blood. He came to Baba seeking help. Baba asked him not to worry and said that all his difficulties will be over soon. Baba said that whoever steps into Dwarkamai with true devotion will see an end to all pain and suffering. The fakir at this place is very compassionate and he takes care of everyone who has true devotion, Baba said to Bimaji Patil. That night Baba appeared in his dream and blessed him and the next day when Bimaji woke up he found himself cured and free of all the symptoms of tuberculosis. In order to express his gratitude Bimaji Patil started a vrata called Sai Vrata similar to the Satynarayana vrata. Sriman Baba Saheb Buti once suffered from Diahorrea and Baba saw him going to the toilet very often. On seeing this Baba pointed a finger towards Mr Buti and said he was cured of diahorrea at that very instant. Within seconds Mr Buti felt cured. Baba was known to cure many devotees by making them eat things that were known to aggravate to those conditions, like almond and pistachio paste for people suffering from an upset stomach. Once Baba cured a Sanyasi who came to Baba complaining of severe earache simply by saying “Allah will take care of you.” One Dutta Pant got cured of the stomach pain he was suffering from for nearly fourteen years by eating the Udi given by Baba. Shama, another devotee of Baba, who was suffering from piles was cured with the essence of Sonamukhi seeds. After sometime Shama again got piles and he decided to cure himself by taking the sonamukhi seeds. And to his surprise the stomach ache became severe and he had to seek Baba’s help. Pandit Gangadhar was cured of his stomach pain when Baba placed his hand on his stomach and said “God will take away your pain. Hardik Sidique Phalke who had been to Mecca for pilgrimage was not allowed to enter the Masjid for nine months. He was allowed to enter only when his ego and pride were gone. Baba embraced him. Once Das Ganu wore a fancy robe and jewellery for a Harikatha recital. Baba called him and asked him to be simple and do the Harikatha like Narad rish. Das Ganu understood the significance of what Baba said and immediately changed into the simple everyday attire of dhoti and angavastra. Sri Sai Baba never offered any mantra to chant or ask his devotees to do yoga. He only asked them to chant God’s name with a pure heart and to remember God always. Baba had control over the natural elements. Once heavy thunder and storm raged over the Shirdi. Baba pointed his finger towards the sky and asked the thunder and storm to be calm. The storm immediately subsided. Once the fire in the dhuni flared up and the flames leapt up to the ceiling. Baba hit his satka on the ground and asked the fire to calm down. Within seconds the fire stopped raging and the flames subsided and the people around were relieved. Whenever devotees felt jealous or had bad thoughts, Baba would read their mind and in a subtle way teach them how to be rid of their unpleasant thoughts and feelings. In order to instil in his devotees the feeling of compassion he would take dakshina from them and by evening he would distribute the money collected as daskshina amongst his bhaktas. The two rupees Baba used to take from him devotees signified patience and devotion, Baba said. Once he asked Sri Narke for fifteen rupee. Mr Narke told Baba that he did not have money, to which Baba said that he did not want the money, he only wanted Sri Narke to practice the yog nishta he was studying. Sometimes Baba used to refuse to take dakshina from devotees and when they brought expensive presents he would scold them. One Sri Jholkar came to Shirdi for Baba’s darshan and for the trip he had saved money by not consuming sugar. On seeing Sri Jholkar, Baba immediately ordered that Sri Jholkar be given tea with a lot of sugar. Sri Jholkar was moved to tears and he realised that God took care of those who worshipped him with pure devotion. Om Sri Samarth Sadguru Sai Nath Maharaj Ki Jai. Baba, I bow before you. Please bless my family and friends with good health and happiness. With your grace and blessings I was able to complete the parayan for Friday. Please bless me with your remembrance, today and always. Om Satguru Sainathay Namah. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.
Om Sri Sai Ram Sunday’s parayan Many Sai Devotees used to come to Baba and seek his pardon for mistakes committed by them and sought his blessings for an end to their sufferings.. Baba understood their needs and used to bless them. Today you will read about the experiences of some devotees and people who were drawn to Baba even before they had met him or heard about him. The pujari of the Saptashringi temple at Nasik was mentally troubled and fervently sought the Devi’s help in overcoming his difficulties. One day the Goddess of the Saptashringi temple appeared to him in his dream and instructed him to go to Shridi. The pujari, Kakaji Vaid, decided to do as instructed by his Devi and began to think about how he could get to Shirdi when Shama the great devotee of Baba came for the darshan of Saptshringi devi. Shama immediately offered to take Kakaji Vaid to Shirdi with him. On getting Baba’s Darshan at Shirdi was awe struck and surrendered himself at Baba’s feet. He returned to Nasik after spending a week at Shridi with Baba’s vibhuti Prasad and amazingly free of the tensions he had travelled with to Shirdi. Ramlal Punjabi once had a dream in which a Mahatma came to him and told him to go to Shridi. Ramlal, however, did not know where Shirdi was and did not know the Mahatma who had appeared in his dream. He spent his waking hours wondering who the Mahatma was and how he could get to Shirdi and to his surprise saw a picture of the same mahatma at a shop. When asked the shopkeeper about the person in the picture, the shopkeeper told him the picture was of Shridi Sai Baba and guided him on the route to Shridi. Ramlal immediately set out for Shirdi. Baba’s darshan filled him with immense peace and joy and he thereafter decided to spend the rest of his life in Shridi. Once Kaka Saheb Dikshit had a dream in which Baba asked him to go to Rahata and bring Sri Kushalchand to Shirdi. Kaka hired a tonga and went to Kushalchand’s house at Rahata. While Kaka was on his way to Rahata, Kushalchand also a vision in which Baba asked him to come to Shridi. As he was preparing to leave for Shirdi he realized that his horse was unwell and just at the very moment Kaka arrived at his house and told him he has come to accompany him to Shirdi. This is the amazing leela of Baba, he communicated with his devotees without sending any letters or telegrams. Master Tendulkar once consulted an astrologer who told him that it was not a good time for him to take his exams and he may fail. When Master Tendulkar’s mother met Baba and told about the prediction of the astrologer, Baba said her son have faith in him fully and start preparing for the exams. As advised by Baba, Master Tendulkar prepared for his exams he passed the exams without any difficult. His faith in Baba got him success. Once members of the Madras Bhakta Samaj came to Shridi and sang bhajans at the Shridi shrine. While in Shirdi the head lady of the bhajan mandali had a dream in which Baba appeared as Sri Ram, her ishta devta. When she told her husband about her dream he dismissed it as just a dream. He in turn had a dream in which he saw himself in prison and was released through the blessings of Baba who appeared as Ramdas swamy in his dream. His wife’s dream where Baba appeared as her istha devta and his dream in which Baba set him free from prison appearing as Ramdas Swamy made him a devotee of Baba. He received the blessings of Baba and was told that he would receive plenty of money through the grace of Allah. The first time Shiva Bhakt Megha went to see Baba, he hesitated to prostrate before Baba because he thought Baba was a muslim. On seeing him Baba got wild and did not allow him to enter the masjid, and angrily told Megha that since he was a high caste Brahmin and Baba a Muslim, he would lose his identity if he came near Baba. On hearing this Megha immediately knew that Baba had read is mind and he found himself spontaneously prostrating at Baba’s feet seeking his blessings. Thereafter he stayed in Shridi for some time and his affection and devotion for Baba deepened. While at Shirdi he would visit all the temples everyday and then come to Baba for the Pada tirtha. Once he expressed a desire to do abhisheka of Baba as is done to Shiva Lingas. He walked about eight kilometers to fetch water from the Gomati river and did the abhisheka of Baba. Baba had requested him not to pour water on any other part of the body other than his head. Megha poured water on Baba’s head chanting Har Har Gange, and to the amazement of everyone who was a witness to this beautiful spectacle not a drop of water fell on any other part of Baba’s body. Once a devotee by the name Lala Lakshmichand had a vision of an old man with beard and when he attended a discourse by Dasganu he saw a picture of Sai Baba kept there. It struck him that the old man he had seen in his dream resembled the person in the picture. This made him very eager to see Baba and so he borrowed rupees fifteen and arrived to see Baba. On seeing him Baba said if you wanted to come to Shirdi why did you have borrow money? He advised him not to borrow money anymore. On seeing Baba’s love and affection, Lakshmichand was moved and he decided to spend rest of his life at Shirdi. A Ramdasi- a devotee of Lord Ram, lived in Shridi and every day he recited the Vishnu Sahasranam after taking bath. One day Baba sent the Ramdasi to the market to bring Sena pod leaves. While the Ramdasi was away, Baba took his Vishnu Sahasranam book and gave it to Shama, a great devotee of Baba. On his return when the Ramadasi found that his Vishnu Sahasranam book was with Shama, he got wild and said he will die if the book was not returned to him immediately. On hearing the Ramadasi scream thus Baba called him and told him not fight and asked him to be considerate, affectionate and not have any attachment for material things. Baba said “you are not able to give away a small book whose contents you have memorized fully, how can you give away yourself when it is required. The Ramdasi understood significance of Baba’s message, and the meaning of life. This brought him peace and tranquility. Gopal Narayan Ambedkar used to come to Shridi and used to share his grief and happiness with Baba. Once he was so overcome by troubles that he decided to commit suicide by jumping into the well at Shridi. Just when he was about to take this drastic step, another devotee came there and gave a book which had the biography of Akalkot Maharaj. In the book it was mentioned that Maharaj had saved a person from drowning in the well and told him he had to suffer for all the bad and good deeds in this life, and one cannot escape the same by committing suicide. The book further said that if one tries to escape the sufferings and pain in this life by ending one’s life then one has to take several rebirths to atone for sins committed. This left a deep impression on Ambedkar and he realized that taking one’s own life is a sin. Over a period of time he mastered astrology and spent the latter part of his life immersed in astrological studies. Harshchandra Pitle’s son used to faint very often and so Harshchandra brought him to Baba’s masjid hoping that his child would get cured. However, the boy fainted as soon as they entered the masjid. Both Harshchandra and his wife were inconsolable on seeing their son’s plight and began to lament that they had brought their son to Baba hoping he would be cured but it seems there was no help. Baba asked them to be calm and assured them that the boy will regain consciousness soon, and God definitely helps those who have Shraddha and Saburi – faith and patience. As assured by Baba, the boy recovered and was completely cured of his sickness. Shri Pitle was given three rupees by Baba and was told that he should keep the same in the shrine at home and worship it to attain happiness. Baba also told him that he had been given two rupees earlier. Shri Pitle, however, did not remember receive two rupees earlier from Baba. Morever, that was his first visit to Shridi. When he returned home and narrated his conversation with Baba to his mother, she told him that as a young boy he had visited Akalkot Maharaj with his father. At that time his father received two rupees from the maharaj. His father used to worship the coin. Thus Baba reminded Pitle that he knows the past of people and one Mahatma knows about the other because of their visionary power. Once someone sent a box of mangoes for Baba at Shridi. From the box, Baba set aside four mangoes for Damu anna. Baba asked Damu anna to give the mangoes to his second wife and said that Damu anna will be blessed with a child once his wife eats the mangoes. Damu anna who has been childless for a long time was blessed with a child through Baba’s amra (mango) leela. After sometime Damu Anna wanted Baba to join his business as a partner. Baba declined the offer saying that he did not want to entangle himself in worldly affairs. Baba had said that even after he takes Samadhi he would take care of his devotees. He may not be physically present but His spirit would continue to guide his devotees, He would talk to His devotees and take care of their wellbeing. He asked his devotees to always remember Him and have faith. “Good things will happen to you,” thus spoke Shri Sai Baba. Once Hemandpant was washing Baba’s feet when some peanuts fell from his coat pocket. He was puzzled as to how there were peanuts in his coat pocket. Baba remarked that since it was the day of the baazar (weekly market) Hemandpant may have gone to the bazaar, bought some peanuts and eaten them all by himself. On hearing this Hemandpant told Baba that he never ate anything without sharing and it was wrong to say that he had brought peanuts to eat them all by himself. To this Baba replied that he knew that Hemandpant always shared and would never eat anything without giving to others. He advised all present there to remember that God is always with them and before anything is eaten it should be offered to God as all that we have or receive is provided by His grace and blessings. Once Shama, a devotee of Baba was bitten by a snake, and as was the custom people wanted him to be rushed to the temple of Khandoba. Shama refused and said his God and the doctor was Baba, so they should take him to the Masjid. When he was entering the Masjid, Sai Baba started to scream “Oh thankless Brahmin get down and get out.” Shama was taken aback by Baba’s reaction and as he lay at the Masjid wondered why Baba was not helping him. However, he soon found himself feeling better, cured of the effects of poisoning without any medicine. He came to realize, as did the other devotees present there, that Baba was not shouting at Shama but commanding the snake to get out. Om Sri Samarth Sadguru Sai Nath Maharaj Ki Jai. Baba Sai, my prostration to you at your feet. With your blessings I could complete the Parayan for Sunday. Please bless me with a life well lived, with good health, with the means to take care of my life and of those around me, and peace for the world. Please bless me with your remembrance always and to receive the Prasad of your blessings daily. Om Satguru Sainathay Namah. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Om Sri Sai Ram Wednesday’s Parayan Maha Yogis and Saints hold each other in high esteem and bear brotherly love and affection for one another. Vasudevanand Saraswati, the saint of Datta Dynasty was living in Rajamandhury in Andhra Pradesh, and one of his devotees expressed a desire to go to Shirdi. Saint Vasudevanand gave a coconut to his devotee, Pundalikar Rao, and requested him to give the coconut to his “brother Shri Sai Baba” and to convey his pranams. Vasudevanand Saraswati held Sri Sai Baba in high regard. However, on the way to Shirdi Pundalikar Rao by mistake broke the coconut and consumed the same. Later when he realized his mistake Pundalikar Rao was very upset. When he reached Shirdi and went for Baba’s darshan, Baba asked for the Coconut. Pundalikar Rao profusely apologized to Baba for his mistake and wished to offer Baba another coconut. Baba told him that no coconut could be a substitute for the coconut sent with love by his brother, Saint Vasudevanand. Kind hearted Baba forgave Pundalikar Rao. One lawyer, by name Saptenkar, was extremely heartbroken on losing his only son. Then one day he remembered that his friend had mentioned how Sri Sai Baba helped devotees overcome their troubles and sufferings. He decided to visit Shirdi with his wife. When Baba saw Saptnekar he became very angry and began to shout saying that Saptnekar holds him responsible for his son’s death but he was wrong. After a while Baba calmed down and said that whoever steps into the masjid will be free of sorrow and suffering, and he would take care of them. He asked Saptnekar and his wife to have faith and that they would be blessed with a child again. Within another year the Saptenkars were blessed with a baby boy. Saptnekar and his wife were blessed by Baba. Once Baba narrated a story about a frog and a snake. The moral of the story was that sins committed in the past birth have to be paid for in this birth. It is therefore important that we tread on the path of good deeds and thoughts. Once the great bhakti, Shama wanted to go to Gwalior, Kasi Prayag and Gaya, to which Baba said that he would reach Gaya before Shama. When Shama reached Gaya after visiting Gwalior and Kasi Prayag, he found a big picture of Baba hung on one of the walls of the temple’s priest’s house. Shama remembered the remark by Baba that he will be there in Gaya before him. When Shama enquired about the picture, the priest told him that it was Shama who had given him the picture about 12 years when they met at Shirdi. Shama could remember the episode and felt very happy. Kaka Sahib Dikshit was asked to read the Eknath Srimad Bahagwat and Bhavarth Ramayana daily by Sri Sai Baba. Kakasahib continued this practice even after Baba attained Samadhi and one day when he was reading section where it was mentioned that a devotee was once very anxious to receive the blessings of his Guru. This reminded Kaka Sahib of his own anxiety. Shama, Baba’s devout disciple consoled Kaka Sahib saying there was no need to worry since Kaka Sahib had reached the very high pedestal of the Sadhguru. Shama narrated the vision that Anand Rao-one of Baba’s devotees once had. Anand Rao Patil had a vision in which he saw Baba sitting on a throne studded with diamonds, in the middle of the sea. Then Shama who was also there asked Anand Rao to touch the feet of Baba. Anand Rao wondered how he could touch Baba’s feet as they were underwater. Shama asked Baba to lift his feet and Baba obliged immediately. Anand Rao clutched Baba’s feet and placed his head on them, thus receiving Baba’s blessings. On hearing the tale Kaka Saheb felt relieved and realized that if one desires for and makes the effort to receive the Guru’s blessings he would never be disappointed. Baba would say, “he who ever insults others hurts me most and he who treats others with kindness is always near me. He who loves me and sees me always is nearer to God. He who ever chants the name of God to him I am indebted and will provide salvation to them and get repay my debt. He who comes to my durbar and offers me food I will never forget. He who always with pure heart seeks salvation I will make his life full of bliss. No one needs to go to far off places in search of me I am for I am everywhere. He who sees with true love and compassion every creature in this world he will find me there in them. You will find me in animate and inanimate things, Baba would tell his devotees. Once Baba narrated an incident involving him and his friends. Baba and three of his friends were once wandering in the jungle in search of God when a man appeared from nowhere and asked what they were searching for. He said that it would be very difficult to find one’s way through the jungle and if they wished he would guide them and it may not be very difficult for them to achieve their mission. None of the four members was willing to believe the stranger and started to walk away from him. After a while they found themselves back at the same spot and found that the stranger was still there. This time the man offered them some food. Baba friends did not accept the food offered by the man and started on their search again. Baba stayed back and ate the food offered by the stranger. Baba told him about their mission to find God. On hearing this, Baba said, the stranger took him to a nearby well and hung him upside down from the frame of the well and left him there in that position for a few hours. He returned after a while and freed Baba. All the while that Baba hung upside down in the well he was not able to touch the water near the well even though he was so near to it. When Baba came out of the well, the stranger asked Baba how he felt to which Baba said he could not describe the experience in words but it was complete bliss. Through this story, Baba wanted to convey that we should never ignore anybody who offers something with love and that food is parabrahama. Even when we are equipped with route map and directions many of us are unable to get to the same address. Similarly, in order to reach God we should have a Guru who will take us through the difficult path and show us the right path. The author of Shri Sai Charita, Hemandpant said that Sai Baba used to help his devotees in every aspect of their lives and Baba wanted them to love all the creations of God and always remember God. He who reads and assimilates the lessons contained in the Sai Sat Charita they will receive the blessings of Baba. Om Sri Samarth Sadguru Sai Nath Maharaj Ki Jai. Baba, my prostration to you at your feet. With your blessings I could complete the Parayan for Wednesday. Please bless me with good health, peace and prosperity. Bless me that I remember you always and receive the Prasad of your blessings everyday. Om Sadhguru Sainathay Namah. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
The last day of Navaratri is traditionally known as “The Wedding Day” This was filmed on 15 April 2008 it was the celebration of the Spiritual Marriage of Two Western devotees Anita & Lambodhar. Here the Groom’s party starts their journey across the riverbed to the gufa side the music gets louder and the party [...]
Hi! Welcome to Ashram Yoga, the Blog. I'm Jessica Loftman, and this is an online space mostly for learning, exploring, and discovering, or at least these are my aspiring hopes. Perhaps as a vision, I hope that this website can be a place of exchange, so that together we may unmask the beauties of India, the ashram tradition, and, most importantly, the eloquent practice and history of yoga. I am both a student and teacher of yoga, and a blossoming dreamer who hopes to make life a journey through the passing waves of spirituality. While in relative perspective I am but a grain of sand within the ocean of spiritual living, I do hope that this site may inspire others to more deeply uncover their perception of yoga and its practices. Thanks for visiting!