Shirdi Sai Baba

Sri Sai Satcharitra: The Wonderful Life of Shirdi Sai Baba, A Modern Rendering of Hemadpant by Monika Penukonda 

If a man utters my name with love, I shall fulfill all his wishes and increase his devotion. If he sings earnestly of my life and my deeds, I shall surround him in front and back and on all sides. Those devotees who are attached to me heart and soul will naturally feel happiness when they hear these stories. Believe me, if anybody sings my leelas I will give him infinite joy and everlasting happiness. ~ Shirdi Sai Baba

From this episode:

In the beginning, Hemadpant describes samsara (worldly bondage) through an allegory of a banyan tree. In the words of the Gita, the banyan tree has roots above and branches below. Its branches are spread downwards and upwards and are nourished by the gunas (qualities). Its sprouts are the objects of the senses. Its roots, leading to actions, are extended downwards to this world of men. Its form cannot be known in this world, nor its end, nor its beginning, nor its support. Cutting the banyan tree of its strong roots with the sharp weapon of non-attachment, one should seek the path beyond, treading where there is no return.

For traversing this path, the help of a good guide is absolutely necessary. However learned a man may be, or however deep his study of sacred literature, he cannot go to his destination safely. If the guide is there to help him and show him the right way, he will avoid the pitfalls and the wild beasts on the journey and everything will go smoothly...

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Sri Sai Satcharitra: The Wonderful Life of Shirdi Sai Baba, A Modern Rendering of Hemadpant by Monika Penukonda 

If a man utters my name with love, I shall fulfill all his wishes and increase his devotion. If he sings earnestly of my life and my deeds, I shall surround him in front and back and on all sides. Those devotees who are attached to me heart and soul will naturally feel happiness when they hear these stories. Believe me, if anybody sings my leelas I will give him infinite joy and everlasting happiness. ~ Shirdi Sai Baba

From this episode:

It is well known that Baba took dakshina from all. Out of the amount collected, he spent a lot on charity and purchased wood with the balance. He used the wood for his dhuni, the sacred fire, which he kept ever burning. The ash from this fire was called udi and it was freely distributed to the devotees upon leaving Shirdi.

What was Baba teaching with this udi? Baba taught by his udi that all the visible phenomena in the universe are as transient as ash. Our bodies, composed of matter made of the five elements, will fall down after all their enjoyments are over and be reduced to ash. To remind the devotees that their bodies will be reduced to ash, Baba distributed udi. He also taught by the udi that Brahman was the only reality, the universe was ephemeral and that no one in this world, not son, father or wife, is really ours. We come in this world alone and we leave alone....

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Sri Sai Satcharitra: The Wonderful Life of Shirdi Sai Baba, A Modern Rendering of Hemadpant by Monika Penukonda 

If a man utters my name with love, I shall fulfill all his wishes and increase his devotion. If he sings earnestly of my life and my deeds, I shall surround him in front and back and on all sides. Those devotees who are attached to me heart and soul will naturally feel happiness when they hear these stories. Believe me, if anybody sings my leelas I will give him infinite joy and everlasting happiness. ~ Shirdi Sai Baba

From this episode:

This chapter continues the subject of the ‘Greatness of Udi’ and describes cases in which the application of udi was most efficacious.

A Doctor’s Nephew Cured with Udi

There lived a qualified and degree-holding doctor, whose young nephew suffered from an incurable tubercular bone abscess. The doctor and his brothers, along with other medical practitioners, tried all sorts of remedies including an operation. There was no relief and no end to the little boy’s suffering. Friends and relations advised the boy’s parents to seek divine aid and recommended they try Baba, who was known to cure such incurable cases by his mere glance. So the parents went to Shirdi. They prostrated to Baba, placed the boy before him and pleaded humbly and respectfully, imploring him to save their son. The merciful Baba comforted them, saying:

"Those who resort to this masjid shall never suffer anything in this life until the end of time. Be carefree now. Apply udi on the abscess and within one week he will recover. Believe in God. This is no masjid, but Dwarkamai. He who steps here will soon get health and happiness and his sufferings will come to an end." ...

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Sri Sai Satcharitra: The Wonderful Life of Shirdi Sai Baba, A Modern Rendering of Hemadpant by Monika Penukonda 

If a man utters my name with love, I shall fulfill all his wishes and increase his devotion. If he sings earnestly of my life and my deeds, I shall surround him in front and back and on all sides. Those devotees who are attached to me heart and soul will naturally feel happiness when they hear these stories. Believe me, if anybody sings my leelas I will give him infinite joy and everlasting happiness. ~ Shirdi Sai Baba

From this episode:

In spiritual matters or endeavors, sectarianism is the greatest obstacle to our progress. Those who believe God is without form say that to believe God is with form is an illusion and saints are only human beings. Then why should they bend their heads before them and offer dakshina? People belonging to other sects will also raise objections and say, “Why should I bow and offer allegiance to other saints, leaving my own sadguru?”

Similar objections regarding Sai Baba were heard before and are heard even now. Some said that when they went to Shirdi, Baba asked for dakshina from them; is it good that saints should collect money in this fashion? If they do so, where is their sainthood? But there are many instances where men went to Shirdi to ridicule, but instead remained there and prayed. Two such instances are given below...

Listen to the full recording of Chapter Thirty-Five today!

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Sri Sai Satcharitra: The Wonderful Life of Shirdi Sai Baba, A Modern Rendering of Hemadpant by Monika Penukonda 

If a man utters my name with love, I shall fulfill all his wishes and increase his devotion. If he sings earnestly of my life and my deeds, I shall surround him in front and back and on all sides. Those devotees who are attached to me heart and soul will naturally feel happiness when they hear these stories. Believe me, if anybody sings my leelas I will give him infinite joy and everlasting happiness. ~ Shirdi Sai Baba

From this episode:

Once two gentlemen came from Goa to have Baba’s darshan. They both prostrated before Baba, but Baba only asked one of them for Rs.15 dakshina, which was paid willingly. The other man voluntarily offered Rs. 35, but it was rejected by Baba to the astonishment of all.

Shama asked Baba, “What is this? Both came together, one’s dakshina you accept, the other, though voluntarily offered, you refuse. Why this distinction?” Baba replied, “Shama, you know nothing. I take nothing from anybody. The masjid mayi (masjid Mother) calls for the debt, the donor pays it and becomes free. Have I any home, property or family to look after? I require nothing. I am ever free. Debt, enmity and murder have to be atoned for, there is no escape.” ...

Listen to the full recording of Chapter Thirty-Six today!

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Sri Sai Satcharitra: The Wonderful Life of Shirdi Sai Baba, A Modern Rendering of Hemadpant by Monika Penukonda 

If a man utters my name with love, I shall fulfill all his wishes and increase his devotion. If he sings earnestly of my life and my deeds, I shall surround him in front and back and on all sides. Those devotees who are attached to me heart and soul will naturally feel happiness when they hear these stories. Believe me, if anybody sings my leelas I will give him infinite joy and everlasting happiness. ~ Shirdi Sai Baba

From this episode:

Blessed is Sai’s life and blessed is his daily routine. His ways and actions are indescribable. Sometimes he was intoxicated with Brahmananda (divine bliss), and at other times content with self-knowledge. At all times, even though doing many things, he remained unconcerned with them. At times he seemed quite actionless but he was not idle or dozing; he was always abiding in his own Self. Though he looked calm and still as a placid sea, he was deep and unfathomable. Who can describe his ineffable nature? He regarded men as brothers, and women as sisters and mothers. He was a perfect renunciate and had total self-control. May the knowledge we received in his company last long unto death. Let us ever serve him with wholehearted devotion. Let us see God in all beings and let us ever love His name...

Listen to the full recording of Chapter Thirty-Seven today!

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Sri Sai Satcharitra: The Wonderful Life of Shirdi Sai Baba, A Modern Rendering of Hemadpant by Monika Penukonda 

If a man utters my name with love, I shall fulfill all his wishes and increase his devotion. If he sings earnestly of my life and my deeds, I shall surround him in front and back and on all sides. Those devotees who are attached to me heart and soul will naturally feel happiness when they hear these stories. Believe me, if anybody sings my leelas I will give him infinite joy and everlasting happiness. ~ Shirdi Sai Baba

From this episode:

Different sadhanas are prescribed in the scriptures for different ages. Tapas (austerities) is recommended for the Krita age, jnana (knowledge) for the Treta age, yajna (sacrifice) for the Dwarpara age, and dana (charity) for the Kali (present) age. Of all the charities, giving food is the best one. We are very disturbed when we do not get food at noon. Other beings feel the same way under these circumstances. Knowing this, he who gives food to the poor and hungry is the best donor or charitable person. The Taittiriya Upanishad says, “Food is Brahma. From food all creatures are born, and having been born, by food they live, then having departed, into food again they enter.” When an uninvited guest comes to our door at noon, it is our duty to welcome him by giving him food. Other kinds of charities, like giving away wealth, property and clothes require some discrimination but in the matter of food no such consideration is necessary. Let anyone who comes to the door at noon be served immediately. If lame, crippled, blind or diseased indigents come, they should be fed first and then the able bodied persons and relations afterwards. The merit of feeding the former is much greater than that of feeding the latter. Other kinds of charity are imperfect, but anna dana (giving food) is the most meritorious. ...

Listen to the full recording of Chapter Thirty-Eight today!

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Sri Sai Satcharitra: The Wonderful Life of Shirdi Sai Baba, A Modern Rendering of Hemadpant by Monika Penukonda 

If a man utters my name with love, I shall fulfill all his wishes and increase his devotion. If he sings earnestly of my life and my deeds, I shall surround him in front and back and on all sides. Those devotees who are attached to me heart and soul will naturally feel happiness when they hear these stories. Believe me, if anybody sings my leelas I will give him infinite joy and everlasting happiness. ~ Shirdi Sai Baba

From this episode:

This chapter discusses Baba’s interpretation of a verse from the Bhagavad Gita. Some people did not believe that Baba knew Sanskrit, but given his interpretative teachings to Nanasaheb Chandorkar, Hemadpant refuted that objection in Chapter 50. As Chapter 50 deals with the same subject matter, it is incorporated into this chapter.

Preliminary

Blessed is Shirdi and blessed is the Dwarkamai where Sri Sai lived and moved until he took mahasamadhi. Blessed are the people of Shirdi whom he helped and for whom he came such a long distance. Shirdi was a small village first, but it attained great importance on account of his contact and became a tirtha, holy place of pilgrimage. Equally blessed are the women of Shirdi; blessed is their complete and undivided faith in him. They sang the glories of Baba while bathing, grinding, pounding corn and doing other household work. Blessed is their love, for they sang sweet songs which calm and pacify the minds of the singers and listeners. ...

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Sri Sai Satcharitra: The Wonderful Life of Shirdi Sai Baba, A Modern Rendering of Hemadpant by Monika Penukonda 

If a man utters my name with love, I shall fulfill all his wishes and increase his devotion. If he sings earnestly of my life and my deeds, I shall surround him in front and back and on all sides. Those devotees who are attached to me heart and soul will naturally feel happiness when they hear these stories. Believe me, if anybody sings my leelas I will give him infinite joy and everlasting happiness. ~ Shirdi Sai Baba

From this episode:

Blessed is Sri Sai Sainatha who gives instructions in both temporal and spiritual matters to his devotees and makes them happy by enabling them to achieve the goal of their life. In placing his hand on their heads, Sai transfers his powers to them and destroys the sense of differentiation, and makes them attain the Unattainable Thing. With no sense of duality or difference, he embraces devotees who prostrate themselves before him. He becomes one with his devotees, as the sea with the rivers when they meet in the rainy season, and gives them his power and position. It follows from this that he who sings the leelas of God’s bhaktas is equally or more dear to him than one who sings the leelas of God only. Now to revert to the stories of this chapter. ...

Listen to the full recording of Chapter Forty today!

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Sri Sai Satcharitra: The Wonderful Life of Shirdi Sai Baba, A Modern Rendering of Hemadpant by Monika Penukonda 

If a man utters my name with love, I shall fulfill all his wishes and increase his devotion. If he sings earnestly of my life and my deeds, I shall surround him in front and back and on all sides. Those devotees who are attached to me heart and soul will naturally feel happiness when they hear these stories. Believe me, if anybody sings my leelas I will give him infinite joy and everlasting happiness. ~ Shirdi Sai Baba

From this episode:

At the close of the last chapter, the account of Baba’s picture being brought to Hemadpant’s house just in time to be placed on the seat of the guest of honor during the Shimga dinner was recounted. Nine years after this incident, Ali Mahomed met Hemandpant and recounted the following story to him: ...

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