Shiva-Sai Mahaa Dheva - By Late Sri G. V. Subba Rao

[Guest guest]

of Bhagavan Baba through various comparisons and parallelisms between Swami and

Shiva. Ekam Sath.Vipraah Bahudhaa Vadhanthi. God is one. But the sages call

Him by various names. The Divine comes down in human form in order to elevate

the human, the crown of his creation, to the level of the Divine. Divine

incarnations over the vast scale of Time are many: Avathaara Hi Asankheyaah, as

the Vishnu Puraana states. Although each of the Avathaars possesses all divine

powers, they exercise selective powers as appropriate to the specific periods,

purposes and problems required to be tackled. SHIVA & SAI SIMILARITIES We

try to fathom the nature of a particular Avathaar by comparing and contrasting,

and establishing similarities, equalities or congruences with an established

Divine Personality in respect of their mutual characteristics, metaphysics or

philosophy, powers, activities, appearances, including their names and their

meanings; we then come to an inferential conclusion that the given divine

manifestation or Avathaar closely approximates or resembles the primordial

Divine principle or Form described in our ancient scriptures. Using the

established criteria for

such comparisons, twenty five elements or considerations are elaborated below

pointing out that the Sathya Sai Avathaar closely resembles the Shiva

principle. Hence the appropriateness of the ending of the Arathi (waving of

lights) song with the expressions, Shiva-Sai-Mahaa-Deva. SHIVA'S BOON TO THE

GREAT SAGE, BHARADVAAJA! That Sathya Sai Baba is an incarnation of

Shiva-Shakthi is attested by the Bharadhvaaja incident, when the great sage,

visiting Kailash, (the abode of Lord Shiva) thought he was neglected by Shiva

and Shakthi involved in their cosmic dance; later, Lord Shiva graced sage

Bharadhvaaja with

a boon that He would be born thrice successively in the Bharadhvaaja Gothra or

lineage: first, Shiva alone as Shirdi Sai, then Shiva and Shakthi together as

Sathya Sai, and Shakthi alone as Prema Sai. [For the complete story in Baba’s

own words, please go here). SAI NAME AND MEANING: SHIVA-SHAKTHI The

name SAAYEE itself means: Shiva-Shakthi. Etymologically, the first letter Sa(h)

signifies the supreme Divinity (Eeshvara) or Shiva. Ayee, the

second word signifies Shakthi, Ambaa or the universal Divine Mother. If the

two letters are joined, the euphonic combination becomes Saayee: The great

Vedhik scholar and seer of the holy Manthra, the Sathya Sai Gaayathree, the

late Ghandikota Subrahmanya Shasthry versified in Sanskrith as follows:

Shivah Sah Ithi Anena UkthahAyee Ithi Ambaa PrakeerthithaaThath Samyogah

Shivas-SaambahSaayee Ithi Prathipaadhyathe Baba has repeatedly declared the

same, that His essential form is ShivaShakthi. In

an unusual interview Baba graced Shaasthreeji and myself (his son), Swaami

created a tri-colour picture containing His bust in the middle of a Shiva Linga

seated on the coils of a divine serpent, which covered the top of the Linga with

its seven hoods (symbolic of the seven worlds or seven levels of consciousness).

Swaami stated that this Saayeeshvara picture represented His "true form!" If

the word Eesha (as Lord Shiva is commonly addressed) is reversed in its

Sanskrith rendering, it becomes Shaayee, further reducing to Saayee or Sai, for

short. Thus Swami's name as well as its meaning point in the direction of Shiva.

SHIVA SAI'S STATURE AND LOOKS Shiva is described in Namakam as short in

stature and handsome in form: Namo Hrasvaayacha Vaamanaayacha. He is also

praised as being eternally youthful. Namo Madhyamaayacha Apa Galbhaayacha. Baba

can be described in similar terms of short stature and youthful and handsome in

His divine demeanour! Short in stature but mighty in mind boggling miracles, as

a U.N. diplomat in Delhi once stated: "How come! A five feet person draws five

lakhs of

people!" SHIVA SAI AS JATAA JUUTEE Shiva is described as Jataa

Juutee, which means one with curly (matted) locks of hair. It is said in

Rudhram: Namah Kapardhinecha Vyuptha-Keshaaya Cha "Prostrations to the Divine

with (matted) curly hair and who is also clean

shaven." Shiva's hair is described as completely black, Hari Keshaayopaveethine

Pushtaanaam Pathaye Namah. Similarly Baba's hair is also curly, bushy, and

black, bearing striking resemblance with the description of Jataa Jutee. He is

also clean shaven, "Vyuaptha Keshi", like Shiva. SHIVA-SAI'S COLOURS

Shiva's form is described in the Vedhik hymn: Asau Yasthaamro Aruna Utha

Babhrus-Sumangalah i.e., crimson, red and orange which are the early morning

colours of the Sun. These are the colours of

Baba's dress which is sometimes light red, sometimes deep red but almost always

orange, the most auspicious colour. SHIVA SAI AND VIBHUUTHI Shiva's body is

adorned with holy ash resulting from the burning of all desires as represented

by Manmatha; it also signifies the truth that ultimately, every thing is not

only transient but reduced to mere ashes or dust at the end. Shiva is therefore

called Kaamaari, the destroyer of lust and also as Bhasmoddhulitha Muurthi, a

divinity covered with holy ash. Similarly, Sathya Sai who is bereft of any

selfish desire used to be covered with holy ash, gushing

out as a stream from his empty hands during the Mahaa Shivaraathri celebrations!

It is well known that Baba creates at will, several times daily, in the view of

thousands of people, undepleted amounts of holy ash by a mere wave of his empty

hand. Like Shiva, Baba can be truly called a Vibhuuthi Sundhara (adorned by holy

ash). Vibhuuti is the hall-mark of Shiva and so is Sathya Sai's. Vibhuuthi

teaches us the lesson: "Dust we are and to dust we return." This Vairaagya

Bhaava (feeling of renunciation) frees us from body oriented attachments.

SHIVA SAI'S UNIVERSALITY Baba draws to Himself devotees from all classes,

castes, creeds, cultures, conditions, countries and from all types of people,

just as Shiva whose devotees include both angelic as well as demonic persons.

He is equally accessible to one and all, unlike Vishnu whom Dhevathas (angels)

adore, but whom Raakshasas (demons) abhor. Lord Vishnu, in charge of

maintaining the world, uses Dhanda - the big stick and massive weaponry to

bring into proper track the wicked and the demonic. SHIVA SAI'S

ACCESSIBILITY Baba is easily accessible and also easily pleased just as Shiva

who is called Bhola Shankar. He is Sulabha Prasanna and

Aashu-Thosha. Baba daily walks around the lines of devotees graciously accepting

their letters; He reaches them Himself with materializations of sacred ash,

Vibhuthi. He ministers individually to the needs and requirements of His

devotees by loving grace of love-filled miracles. In the famous Vedhik hymn,

Namakam or Shath Rudhreeyam, Shiva is adored as Kruthsna Veethaaya Dhaavathe

Sathvanaam Pathaye Namah! "Salutations to Shiva who rushes to the help and to

the rescue of the devotees." So does our Svaami, as attested by innumerable

devotees from all over the wide world. Just as Shiva is termed as Adhya

Vochath, Adhivakhaa i.e., one who eloquently praises and vouchsafes for his

devotees, Baba praises even a small "mustard-like" service rendered by them in

terms of "pumpkin-size" encomiums! SHIVA SAI AS LINGODBHAVAKARA Shiva's

first manifested form took the shape of a mighty egg shaped column of radiant

effulgence, the Jyothirlinga which represents the primordial source, force and

fulfillment of all Life. Linga symbolises the loving union of God and Nature,

Purusha and Prakrithi, the basis of all creation which is pervaded by Divinity.

During Mahaa Shivaraathri days, Baba used to materialise a variety of Lingas in

His stomach and emit them from His divine mouth

symbolising the cosmic creative act. He also creates Shiva Lingas of all types

from his empty hand and gifts them to devotees. Furthermore, He has taken out

the original Lingas underlying the idols in such holy places as Somnaath,

Badharinaath etc, recharging them in the process and restoring them back to

their original niches and pristine glory. Baba is truly a Lingodhbava-kara,

because Shiva Lingas continue to emerge, as willed by Him, from His mere empty

palm. On Mahaa Shivaraathri of 1961 Baba took out from his mouth the

Aathma-Linga as a visible evidence of the Aathmik principle of Divinity, which

inheres in all. During the 1974 Mahaa Shivaraathri festival, Svaami manifested

a ten-inch long, Aathma Linga. He then made the astounding

declaration that the sight of this AathmaLinga, which is described by

KapilaMaharishi, (a great sage) would free one from the transmigratory cycle of

births and deaths! That Linga assumed different colours every ten minutes!

SHIVA SAI'S CORE TEACHING In regard to metaphysics, the Shiva oriented

principle of "SHIVOHAM" and the SathyaSai teaching of Soham are non-dualistic,

reflecting the Mahaa-Vaakyas: Thath Thvam Asi and Aham Brahmaasmi - (Thou Art

That, and, I am the Divine). In Shiva worship, it is laid down that the

worshiper must develop the feeling of one-ness with Shiva, Soham

Bhaavenapuuyajeth.

In the case of Vishnu it is near-blasphemy to say "VISHNOHAM"! SAI DHAKSHINAA

MUURTHI Shiva is the primal preceptor in the form of DhakshinaaMurthi.

He is the Lord in Kailash facing the southern direction, so the name

Dhakshinaamurthi. He is the Lord of love and mercy, ‘Dhaakshinyam’ as it is

said in Sanskrit. He teaches profound spiritual lessons by Chinmudhras or

symbolic hand gestures, in which the right thumb (representing

Paramaathma, the Supreme Self) closing with the index finger (i.e. Jeevaathma or

individual self) indicates fullness or Puurnathvam. The other three outstretched

fingers indicate the moving away of the worldly qualities of Sathva, Rajas and

Thamas - goodness, passion and inertia. Through these divine hand-gestures

Shiva, as Dhakshinaamuurthi boons the gift of Supreme Liberating Knowledge,

‘Jnaana Dhakshina’. Similarly, the bed-rock of Sai's teaching is Adhvaitha,

non-dual equality of the individual and the Cosmic Self. Like

Dhakshinaamuurthi, He is truly Adhvaitha Jnaana Bhaaskara, the Sun of the

knowledge of supreme reality. Svaami's silent, creative and transformational

activities are affected, as it were, by His Shanmudhras or six types

of hand-gestures or circling movements of the hand and fingers.

SHIVA-SAI'S SIMPLICITY Simplicity and an austere bearing are the hallmarks of

Shiva who is called Alankaara Varjitha meaning, free from ornamentation, unlike

Lord Vishnu who is praised as AlankaaraPriya or the one pleased with

decorations. In the entire Vedhik pantheon of deities, every deity except

Shiva, are bedecked with ornaments, practically

from head to toe. Shiva, although without ornaments, showers all rich ornaments

on his devotees; Kubera, The Lord of Wealth, owes His proverbial wealth to

Shiva. Similarly, Baba is simple and austere, does not even wear a watch,

although He creates time-pieces at will! Like Shiva, He is truly Alamkaara

Varjitha, bereft of ornaments, and also AhamkaaraVarjitha, with no trace of

egotism. While Himself free from ornaments, Baba graciously materialises,

day-in and day-out, jewellery, gold chains, lockets, wrist watches, icons of

gold and precious stones for His devotees. He, like Shiva, is a divine jeweller

showering Vibhuthi, Lingas and precious ornaments. These articles serve as

talismans of protection from

the ills of body, mind and ego. SHIVA SAI'S ADORNMENTS The adornments of

Shiva are only natural entities, like the crescent moon radiating cool rays,

the serpents round His neck and arms and the thousand-hooded Divine Serpent

over His Linga (NaagaLinga) symbolising His mastery over the Mind (Moon) and

the myriad senses (serpents). In the tri-colour picture created by Svaami for

the Vedhik scholar Pandith G. Subrahmanya Shaasthry, the seven-headed divine

serpent hovers over the Linga in the midst of which Baba's bust is manifested!

Similarly, Baba's head is covered, according to Dr.

Baranowski, an expert in Kirilian photography, by a large aura, a mass of

shining bluish rays. (To read the article about Baba’s aura from our previous

issue, go here). Devotees see visions of Baba as a moving column of effulgent

light, radiating cool rays like the Moon! SHIVA SAI'S MULTIPLE FORMS Like

Shiva who is adored in the Vedha as Viruupebhyah Vishvaruupebhyah, Baba can

take any form, assume different names appearing in several places,

simultaneously. Baba, when He was young visited Viruupaaksha temple along with

a party of relatives and the then

Chairman of Bellary Municipality; it was vouchsafed that He was seen

simultaneously inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Deity as well as under a

tree outside the temple at one and the same time! Sai literature has numerous

instances of Baba's simultaneous multiple appearances at far away places!

SHIVA-SAI AS GANGAA DHAARI Baba , like Shiva, is a Gangaa Dhaari, the bearer

and giver of Ganga waters, Baba in His early teens used to being given by His

mother, an oil bath on His birthdays. On one such occasion, Baba declared that

there was no need for pouring any water over His head; and lo and behold! Water

started flowing from the top of His

head and spilled over the mother and an attending relative! Long afterwards in

1997, Baba gifted safe, piped drinking water supply to a million people in the

parched Ananthapur district. He is truly a Gangaa Dhaari like Shiva who is

associated closely with the life-supportive waters, as mentioned in several

hymns of Namakam chants dedicated to Shiva. SHIVA-SAI AS JALA MUURTHI Shiva

is called Jala Muurthi, the life-supportive water-form. This is extensively

hinted in the holy

Vedhik hymn of Rudhram or Namakam. Namah Suudhyaayacha, SarasyaayachaNamo

Naadhyaayacha, Namah Kuupyaayacha;Namah Sikathyaayacha Pravaahyaayacha;Namah

Theerthyaayacha Kuulyaayacha. Salutations to that Divinity which is closely

associated with lakes, rivers, wells, reservoirs, and water falls. Once I

told Baba that hydrologists are sceptical of the long-term viability of water

supply to the proposed Sathya Sai Water Project in the dry Ananthapur district

and that the abiding

solution is the inter-basin water transfer from the far-away Godhaavari River.

Baba then made the astounding declaration that He guarantees water supply to

the project for many centuries provided the water pipe-lines are built strong

enough to last that long! In any case, the Godhaavari originates in

Thryambakeshavara and He pointed to His heart as the true place of origin of

these waters! SHIVA SAI: THREE-EYED ? When Svaami was in his

early twenties, a restless youth who was an incorrigible cricket fan, was given

the task of attending to Baba. Baba was reeling out cricket scores of a match

being played in far away Madras in order to keep the youth happy! Even then,

the boy kept asking questions of Svaami, particularly about the third eye of

Shiva. Svaami looked intensely at the young man, when a jet stream of Vibhuuthi

shot out with gale force from the middle space of the eye-brows of Svaami

suchwise, that the youth was catapulted to the other end of the hall! The story

is narrated in "Man of Miracles" and also reconfirmed to me recently by the then

youth, now in his early sixties. Shiva is adored as Thryambaka the three eyed as

in the famous hymn of liberation "Thryambakam Yajaa Mahe", and so is Sai Baba a

Thrayambaka the three-eyed one with his Jnaana Nethra, the third eye of wisdom,

always open. SHIVA SAI AS DOCTOR OF DOCTORS Shiva is worshipped in the

Shatha Rudhreeya Hymn as being Prathamo Dhaivyo Bhishak as the primordial

divine doctor. In the same Vedhik text Shiva is adored as Vishva Bheshaje,

Vishvaaha Bheshajee, Shivaa Rudhrasya Bheshajee. He is the expert physician

curing all the ills. Another hymn praises Him as the Lord and Master of the

world of Medicines, Bhuvanthave Vaarivaskruthaava Oshadheenaam Pathaye Namah.

Like Shiva, Baba is the doctor of doctors, effecting innumerable cures of many

illnesses of the Body, Mind, the Intellect and the Ego as well by his mere

divine touch; Svaami materialises Vibhuuthi with curative properties, as well

as actual medicinal tablets; He performed miraculous surgeries,

including the materialisation of the necessary surgical implements as asserted,

confirmed and reconfirmed, particularly in Howard Murphet's writings. SHIVA

SAI AND BRAHMACHARYA Shiva as Dhakshinamuurthi, is a complete celibate,

teaching by silence the non-dualistic unity of Jeevaathma with Paramaathma. He

is surrounded by the eternal celibates: Sanaka, Sanandha, Sanath-Kumaara and

Sanaathana, the four mind-born sons of the creator Brahma. Thus Shiva is called

Brahma-Charyaashrama Priya (fond of celibacy). Similarly, Svaami is a complete

celibate, Brahmachaaari, who is in constant integrated Braahmik consciousness,

teaching non-dualism all His life. He is also surrounded by the student

Brahmachaaris, that is why he is called Brahmachaari Pariveshtitha. Svaami

repeatedly declares that His only property is His students. SHIVA SAI AS

YOGEESHVARA Shiva is the Lord of Yogis, Yogeeshvara; while Vishnu (Krishna)

is the Lord of the Yogas, Yogeshvara (vide the 18 yogas in the Bhagavath

Geetha). Sathya Sai is Yogijanapriya, meaning the darling and nourisher

of the Yogis. He closely instructs, guides and sustains them to achieve

perfection as in the case of the Yogic practitioners in the Narayana Guha, (a

small cave in the Himalayas ) to whom He gifted a vessel producing food and

drink whenever needed! SHIVA SAI AS MRUTHYUNJAYA Shiva is the master or

conqueror of death; he is called Mruthyunjaya. Baba protects and saves devotees

from untimely death i.e., Apamruthyuhara as in the case of Mr. Cowan in Madras,

Mr. Raadhaakrishna of Kuppam and Pandith GhandiKota Subrahmanya Shaasthry in

August 1985. (To read stories of resurrections, please go here.) SHIVA SAI'S

SEATING Shiva is seated on a tiger skin, Vyaaghra Charmaaaseena, suggestive

of the control of cruel animalistic qualities. Svaami, in Prashaanthi Mandhir,

is daily seated on a chair underneath of which is a tiger headed skin. In his

wandering youth days, Svaami's only luggage piece was a tiger skin (with a pair

of towels)! SHIVA SAI'S SELFLESS SERVICE Shiva is an ascetic, a renunciate,

a Mahaa Viraagi and dedicated to Loka Sangraha, the welfare of the worlds (e.g.

He swallowed deadly poison and saved the

world). Svaami, likewise, is supremely detached within and intensely active

without and performs loving selfless service, through free educational,

medical, humanitarian relief activities, such as provision of drinking water

supply to lakhs of people. He tirelessly teaches Sai Shadvarga, that is, the

six human values of truth, righteousness, peace, love, non-violence and

selfless service/sacrifice for Lokasangraha in order to counteract the poison

of Arishadvarga, the six inner enemies of Lust, Anger, Greed, Attachment, Pride

and Jealousy. SHIVA SAI , THE ATHYAASHRAMI Svaami like Shiva is universal,

transcends caste, class, creed, country, culture etc. He is beyond all orders

and categories; He is truly an Athya Aashramee, like Shiva. He teaches

universality: "There is only one Race, the race of humanity; only one Religion,

the religion of love; only one Language, the language of the heart and only one

God and He is omnipresent!" SHIVA SAI: YANTHRA, MANTHRA AND THANTHRA

For each aspect of Shiva, there is a symbolic Yanthra or numerical (and

geometrical) representation. In the case of Shiva, the Absolute, it is number

nine. Letter "Shi" in the science of Manthras is signified by the number of five

and the letter "va" equals number four, making a total of nine. Eeashvara

connected with creation is signified by number eight. And an Avathaar is

signified by number seven, which is the hall mark of Shiva Shakthi. Sai is

Sapthamayee, with seven fold powers, principles, and purposes. Similarly, for

each manifestation of Shiva there is a Manthra or sacred sound-formula. As

Rudhra-ShivaMahaa-Dheva, the Manthra in the Gaayathree form is:

Thathpurushaaya Vidhmahe,Mahaa

Dhevaaya DheemahiThanno Rudhrah Prachodhayaath. In respect of Bhagavaan Baba,

the Gaayathreemanthra is as follows: Om. Saayeeshvaraaya

VidhmaheSathya-dhevaaya Dheemahi,Thannah-sarvah Prachodhayaath We realise

that Sai is Eeshvara i.e., Shiva.We meditate on this God of Truth. May That

Almighty, All in-All personality, lead us to liberation. Similarly, for

each manifestation of Shiva, there is a Thanthra, a schema of adoration,

worship and prayer. In the case of Shiva, the adoration is through the chanting

of the Shatha Rudhreeyam; the worship is done by pouring water over the holy

Linga, called Abhishekam, and the prayer is contained in the Vedhik hymn of

Chamakam. In the case of Sathya Sai, there are similar forms of adoration,

worship and prayer: Sathya Sai Gaayathree chanting, Sai Ashtothara NaamaPuuja

(chanting 108 names of Sai)and Aarathi with the waving of lights. The Aarathi

song is addressed to Shiva-SaiMahaa-Dhevaa! And finally comes the distribution

of

Vibhuuthi, which is the hall-mark of both Shiva and Sai, the-visible

manifestation of Shiva Thathva being the non-dualistic principle of "Soham"

(Sah + Aham = I am Divinity): Sai Shivoham. Baba has repeatedly asserted the

innate Shiva Sai principle in the following verse: Sarva Naama Dharam,

ShivamSarva Ruupa Dharam, ShaanthamSatchidhaanandham AdhvaithamSathyam Shivam

Sundharam. The supreme Felicity which bears all names;The supreme Serenity

which assumes all forms;The non-dual Divinity, the Being-awareness-BlissThat is

Truth, Goodness and Beauty. In conclusion, we meditate on SAI SHIVOHAM, the

five lettered, non-dualistic Panchaakshari Manthra. It signifies oneness of

Shiva, Sai, and our Self; this is in contrast to the dualistic manthras of

Namasshivaaya. SAISHIVOHAM means that this Sathya Sai is the visible living

manifestation of the unitary Shiva principle of the identity of Jeevathma and

Paramaathma, that is, of the individual Self with the Supreme Self; this is the

teaching of both Shiva and Sai and also the supreme teaching of Adhvaitha

Vedhaantha taught in the Upanishaths, India ’s most ancient scriptures.

Courtesy: Saidarshan.org - Heart2Heart Team Source: Radio Sai E-Magazine,

february 2006

Issuehttp://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_04/01FEB06/shiva-sai-mahadev.htm