Sri Ganeshayanamaha Sri Saraswatyainamaha Sri Gurubhyonnamaha
Sri Sai Ramachandrayanamaha
Sri Sai Satcharitra Sārāmsh
(Wednesday Paarayan)
Source: Sri Sai Satcharitra written by Sri Hemad Pant and published by Shirdi Samsthan
Abridged by: Ch. K. Surya Prakasa Rao, Visakhapatnam (A.P., India),
Sai Devotee
Translated by: Suryanarayana Vulimiri, Morrisville, NC USA,
Sai Devotee
45th Chapter:
Baba’s physical or finite form disappeared from our view. But his infinite power and spiritual form will remain forever. Even now what we need is heart-felt devotion for Baba. Our intellect, mind and all the senses should be unified in the service of Baba. None of our kith and kin, such as father, mother, brothers or relatives will be able to help us in attaining self-realization in life. We have to find our way and continue to travel to attain this goal.
In Kali yug there is only one way to attain liberation. It is nothing but seeking the refuge at the divine feet of Guru or Hari (God). Always chanting Guru’s name and meditating on him gives us eternal bliss. Baba once said to Mahalsapati, “Whether it is good or bad, whatever it belongs to us remains with us, while others have what belonged to them”.
46th Chapter:
Although Baba’s image is invisible now, if the devotees keep faith in him they can experience all the leelas that had happened before he attained samādhi. If Baba accepts someone as a devotee he will stay with him round the clock and also will follow him even he is at a far off place. If a devotee goes to a place of his interest, Baba would arrive there ahead of anybody and always show up in an unanticipated form. Based on the story of the two goats it is apparent that Baba loves animals so much.
47th Chapter:
Pure and blessed is the face of Sai. If we cast a glance at Sai for a moment, He will get rid of the sorrow we acquired from the past several births and confers great bliss on us. His looks of grace and mercy would make us free of the bondage of karma in no time and we will be laid to happiness. Everyone has to reap the fruits formed in this birth due to the seeds sown in the previous birth, and there is no escape. There is no use in worrying over the past. God will always rush to the rescue of the devotees in times of necessity. This has been exemplified in the story of Veerabhadrappa-Chenna Basappa (Snake-Frog story).
Moral: From this story we learn that we need to experience the effects of our own past deeds. Besides, we may have to experience the troubles that come due to our relationship with others. There is no way one can escape. If we have enimity with others, we have to be liberated from that. You have to repay a debt if you owe anything to others. Unpaid debt and uncleared enimity always makes you suffer mentally. Those who are greed and avaricious end up in misery, eventually leading to destruction.
48th Chapter:
Qualities of Sadguru:
A sadguru is one who creates distaste in us towards worldly pleasures; one who inculcates interest in us towards self-realization; one who has both theoretical and practical knowledge in self-realization. He is deserved to be called as sadguru. A saduguru is an epitome of peace and is never restless or ruffled. They never show pride for their learning. The rich, the poor, the great and the small are all equal to them. Sri Shirdi Saibaba is such a sadguru. Thus, devotees should fill the lamp of their heart with the oil of faith and dovotion and use love as the wick. When they kindle the lamp with the flame of knowledge it will glow brighter. God will manifest where there is true yearning and superior expression. It is nothing but love, which shows the path to liberation. Thus, whatever the experiences the devotees had while Baba was physically present, the same experiences are felt by those who instilled complete loyalty to him even today.
49th Chapter:
Practising penance (tapasya) is always superior than pilgrimage, vow, sacrifice or charity. Worshipping Hari is better than penance. However, meditation of Sadguru is superior to all the above. If we fulfill our duties sincerely, Sai Sadguru definitely helps us and eventually liberates us. Once Baba said to Nana, “Why are you getting agitated unnecessarily? Let the senses perform their assigned duties. We should not interfere with them. God has created this beautiful world. It is our duty to look at this beauty and enjoy it. As long as your heart is pure there is nothing wrong with it. When we do not harbor evil ideas why should we scared of others? Eyes will do their duty of seeing and enjoying. You need not feel ashamed. “If you can not control the external senses, and let your mind run after objects of desire, and be attached to them, you will never be able to break the cycle of birht and death”.
50th Chapter:
The stories of Sai Baba give solace and comfort to the readers. Those who tell or listen to Sai stories are blessed and holy. The mouths of those who tell and the ears of those who listen are pious. Baba says to devotees, “Do not entertain the sense of doership in doing good or bad deeds; be entirely prideless and egoless in all things and thus your spiritual progress will be rapid”. “During your terminal stages of life I will take you in an air coach”. Baba always says that if the devotee does not belong to Him, he will neither be attracted to Him nor gets a glimpse of Him.
51st Chapter: (This is equivalent to Chapters 52 and 53 from Sai Satcharitra)
These are the last chapters. In this Hemadpant gave his concluding remarks.
Greatness of Sadguru Sai:
We prostrate ourselves infront of Sadguru Sai and seek his refuge. He pervades equally in all living creatures and animals as well as in inanimate objects without any differentiation. If we remember Him and seek his shelter, He will fulfill all our wishes and makes us attain the goal of our life. It is very difficult to traverse the ocean of mundane existence. Sadguru Sai helps us being like a boat to safely take us across this ocean.
Sri Sāinātha’s Ēkādasha Sūtras:
1. Stepping on Shirdi soil will bring all your sorrows to an end.
2. The wretched and miserable who climb the steps of my samadhi will get comforts and prosperity.
3. I will be awake and active even after leaving this physical body.
4. My devotees get the protection from my Samādhi itself.
5. I will carry out all my chores from the Samādhi itself.
6. My mortal remains would speak from the Samādhi.
7. It is my duty to protect those who surrender to me and seek refuge in me.
8. If you look to me, I will look to you.
9. If you cast your burden on me, I shall bear it for certain.
10. If you seek my help or advice, I shall be given to you at once.
11. There shall be no poverty in the house of my devotees.
Phala Shruti (Reward of Study)
Let us talk about the benefits of reading this book. One should read Sai stories in order to escape from the cycle of birth and death. And always remember them. Always seek shelter at His divine feet. Worship Him with devotion. As you continue to meditate Sai’s Form, eventually it leads you to the path of self-realization. If a devotee surrenders himself completely to Baba, he will forget himself and at the end will join the God just like the rivers merge into the great ocean.
Every day after taking bath who ever reads this book with devotion, love and complete faith and finishes in one week, will ward off all their troubles or sorrows. Even if you can read one chapter every day by focusing your mind, it gives immense happiness. If you belive in seeing only Sai’s holy feet in your heart you can easily cross the ocean of mundane existence. Always the rewards depend on the extent of one’s faith and devotion.
Prasad Yachana
We conclude reading this book with the prayer of the Almighty. We beseech Him for showing mercy on us. Let those whoever read this book shall get heart-felt complete devotion at the feet of Sri Saibaba. Let Sai’s Form stay in their eyes forever. They would see Sai in all beings. Let it be happen.
Sri Satchidanand Sadguru Sainath Maharaj Ki Jai!
Sri Sai Satcharitra Saramsamu is complete.
It was possible to write this book only because of the mercy of Sri Sai.
I would dedicate it to my parents. I always surrender to Him.
Sai Devotee
Ch.K.Suryaprakasa Rao, Visakhapatnam
Camp: USA, NorthCarolina, Morrisville.
Date: 25th July 2010.
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