TThe Revelation of Swami's True Form (Must Read)

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slip of memory, my father forgot to mention the Shiva aspect of Baba, although

Shiva happened to be his Ishta Devatha or favorite form of Divinity. All

through the rest of the day he regretted this omission. BABA's TRUE FORM The

next morning, after the regular bhajan was over, Baba called us inside and

graced us with a memorable interview. The discussion centered on the triple

Vedhic paths of, Karma, Bhakthi and Jnaana (Work, Worship, and Wisdom) and the

triple divinities: Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudhra. At the end, Baba led us into the

Bhajan Hall and showed us around the new decorative installations in the Bhajan

Mandir. Baba then stopped in front of the Shiridi Baba painting and lovingly

materialized an unusual color picture (shown below), declaring to my father:

"Idhi naa nija svaroopam " (This is My True Form). This electrified my revered

father and also astounded me. SAI

LINGESHVARA The first astounding feature of this created picture is that Baba's

bust image is at the heart of the Linga form of Maheshvara. Saayeeshvara is thus

Lingeshvara, the force pervading the universe. Sadhashiva Linga represents the

ever auspicious Aatma beyond all duality. The Lingam is the symbol of creation

and the Godhead. Baba used to produce on Mahashivaraathri night Lingas from

inside Him and He has materialized innumerable Lingas from His Divine Palm.

Baba stated: "Having witnessed the emergence of the Linga form (on

Mahaashivaraathri) I assure you that you are released from the bondage of

birth-death cycles". Baba once created for my father a Linga with Swami inside.

A second time, He created a Neela Khanteshvara Linga - a blue-throated Linga

symbolizing the control of poisonous substances and advised us that the water

offerings poured over the Linga should be drunk for better health and vitality.

SAI AS SHIVA AVATHAAR It was my

father's faith that SAI represented the Shiva Avathaar. He reached this

conclusion by systematically applying Vedhic criteria for comparisons of the

two divine entities, Shiva and Sai, through analogies, similarities, and

congruencies in such matters as their names , meanings of names, physical

features, outstanding qualities and powers (gracing, veiling, and liberating

powers), and teaching of Supreme Knowledge of Truth. The book SRI SATHYA SAI

AVATHAARA VAIBHAVAM in Telugu contains a number of articles and Sanskrith

poetic compositions attesting to his faith in SAI as the contemporary Avathaar

or Incarnation of Shiva-Shakthi, Dhaivic (divine) power. Lingas and Vibhuthi

creations are the two chief hallmarks of the two divine entities, Shiva and

Sai. SAI AS VIBHUUTHESHVARA Secondly, the materialized Linga picture with

Baba's bust inside is prominently marked on its forehead by three horizontal

thick lines of Vibhuthi, the sacred Ash, the most precious and

potent object for spiritual elevation as well as for prosperity, health, and

healing properties. Baba used to materialize for my father copious quantities

of holy Ash frequently during his last days at Prasanthinilayam. Once, on my

father's ninety-second birthday, Baba poured a fistful of Vibhuthi on his head,

putting some of it on his tongue! On another occasion, Baba materialized for my

father a Vibhuthi and wet sandal paste-smeared silver medal lion with

Saamba-Shiva picture on one side and the Shiva Manthra - OM NAMASSHIVAAYA on

the other side saying that Baba's angelic messengers brought it from Kailash

after Shiva Pooja there! Hail to Shiva Sai MahaA dheva! The three horizontal

ash lines are called Thripundraka. As mentioned in the BRIHAJJAABAALOPANISHATH,

the three lines represent the trinity, the three fires, and the three worlds. As

Baba says, Vibhuthi as the mark of Shiva is applied by Him to our brow to remind

us that we too are Divine. Shiva smeared Himself

with Vibhuthi after He reduced Manmatha or Kaama, the demi-God of desire to

ashes. Therefore Vibhuthi, as Baba says, signifies triumph over tantalizing

desires. Vibhuthi or sacred Ash is symbolic of the ultimate reality which

remains when the dross of ego is burnt away by the fire of illumination. Ash or

dust is the final unchangeable condition of things and as such it is a symbol of

Divinity and Cosmic Dissolution. Vibhuthi given by Baba constitutes a warning

lesson to the receiver to give up all desires and to burn all passions,

desires, attachment, and temptations, and make one pure, holy and sacred and

hence eligible for liberation. SAI AS OMKAARESHVARA Thirdly, the materialized

picture of Shiva-Sai is encircled by OMKAAR, the primordial and eternal symbol

of Brahman - Om Ithi Ekaaksharam Brahmaa - the Universal Absolute. It is the

signature tune of God. Om - AUM - is the sum of all teachings of the Vedhas

about Godhead and the systems of

adoring. It represents the OM THATH SATH principle: "That is the Truth", "I am

the Truth", and the "Truth is One". SOHAM is the unstruck, spontaneous sound

emanating from the process of inhalation and exhalation of our life or vital

breath. Soham transmutes itself into Om when the distinction between He and I

has dissolved in Yogic trance or Samaadhi. The enveloping OMKAAR in the picture

bespeaks of Shiva-Sai as OMKAARESHVAR. SAI AS NAAGALINGESHVARA Fourth, the

materialized picture of Shiva-Sai portrays at the back the raised hoods of the

seven-headed Sesha Naaga or the primordial Divine Serpent of worldly Maaya or

illusory divine energy hovering as an umbrella over the Shiva-Sai Linga. The

seven heads represent the seven worlds created by Maheshvara. The hydra-headed

cobra is charmed and fascinated by the Divine Snake-charmer's flute music, as

it were. So long as Nature or man subserves and adores Supreme Divinity, it is

freed from its deadly poisonous desires

and attachments to evanescent worldly attractions, and then by its absorption in

Divinity gains power which enables it to support the seven worlds on its heads.

In another sense, the raised seven hooded serpent represents the upward flow of

Kundalini energy breaking through the six energy centers (Shat-Chakras) and

eventually reaching the seventh center of Sahasrara, the thousand petaled lotus

overflowing with the nectar of immortality. The raised hooded serpent is also

symbolic of the totality of both inner and outer energy in dedication to

Shiva-Sai Linga. The Linga picture materialized by Baba adorned by Sesha Naaga

portrays the Naaga Lingeshvara aspect of Saayeeshvara. THRAYEE SAAYEESHVARA The

fifth feature of the Shiva-Sai Linga picture is the portrayal of the three Sai

figures - Shirdi Sai, Sathya Sai, and forthcoming Prema Sai. The past and

future Sai figures are shown in the upper left and right hand corners of the

pictures while

Sathya Sai figure is in the center of the Linga. The three Shiva Sais - Shirdi

Sai representing austere Shirdi Sai aspect, Sathya Sai symbolizing the

energetic Shiva-Shakthi aspect, and the forthcoming Divine loving mother Shiva

aspect is Prema Sai. These three Shiva Avathaars straddle the three centuries,

19th, 20th and 21st, when unprecedented violence on a global scale and regional

wars require divine loving pacification of the demonic forces within man! The

triple Sai principle exemplified in the picture represents Sadhaa Shiva or

Parabrahman. SAI AS GANGESHVARA The sixth feature of the materialized

"Saayeeshvara" picture is the stream of water flowing out of the mortar like

platform on which rests the Shiva Linga. It is symbolic of the sanctified

GANGAAJAL emerging from KAILAAS, abode of Shiva. It represents the controlled

outpouring of life-supportive holy waters for the benefit of all creatures. An

interesting event happened

recently: Baba, before switching on the electric button for releasing the first

installment of piped safe drinking water supply to a number of parched villages

in Anantapur district, passed by me. I was holding this Saayeeshvara picture and

addressed Swami as Gangaadhareshvara in tune with the water flow shown in the

materialized SAI picture. What was shown in the picture came to pass three

decades later in 1995! SAI AS MRITHYUNJAYESHVARA Shiva Sai is ever auspicious,

ever beneficent (Shankara) and ever munificent and therefore worthy of

adoration, worship and meditation. The garland of flowers adorning the

Shivalinga represents a devotional offering to the lord of life and death as

well as liberation. He is worshipped therefore as MRITHYUNJAYESHVARA, the

conqueror of death; He bestows the Supreme Knowledge enabling the devotee to

end the vicious cycle of birth-disease-death and rebirth. The story of how my

aged and ailing father was rescued from the jaws of

death by Shiva Sai has been narrated elsewhere (see AVATHAAR OF LOVE, Prashanthi

Society, p.76). SAI MEDITATION This remarkable Saayeeshvara picture materialized

more than three decades ago lends itself admirably to both Saguna (with name and

form as Shiva-Shakthi Sathya Sai) and Nirguna (or transcendental inner

illuminating LINGA and OMKAAR) meditations. My revered father was meditating on

both aspects of Sai as represented in this unique picture created by Bhagavan

Baba. REVELATION OF SATHYA SAI GAAYATHREE It is the inner SAI inspired

illumination that expressed itself in the revelation of the Manthra, Sai

Gaayathree by that self-same outstanding Vedhic personality Shri Ghandikota

Subrahmanya Shastri on a holy day (Christmas eve) in a holy place, Brindhaavan

(Divine Baba's residence in Whitefield) at a holy time (evening Sandhya or

sunset time) in the very holy direct presence of contemporary Shiva Avathaar,

Bhagavan Shree Sathya Sai

Baba Himself (who graciously called the renowned Vedhic scholar as 'RISHI').

This holy Manthra reads as follows: Om Saayeeshvaraaya Vidhmahe Sathya

Dhevaaya Dheemahi Thannassarvah Prachodhayaath The purport of the Sathya Sai

Gaayathree Manthra is: "We realize through scriptural criteria, through

selfless preceptors and above all by our own direct experiences of Sai's

miracles of divine love, creations, miracles of healing of our physical and

mental ills, miracles of omniscient knowledge and teachings, and also miracles

of His loving service activities that Sathya Sai is Divinity Incarnate. We

meditate with all our heart and on this God of Truth with firm faith and trust.

We earnestly pray to that All-in-All Divinity that He, in His infinite mercy and

compassion inspire us, guide us, direct us, and lead us in our pursuit of the

liberating path of Truth, Right Action, Peace, Love, Non-Violence, and Selfless

Service or Sacrifice." RECENT AFFIRMATION BY SWAMI In the recent magnificent Sai

Padhukaa (holy sandals of Sai) celebrations, the whole of Prashaanthi Nilayam

reverberated with the mass chanting of the Sai Gaayathree. At the end of the

Divine Sandal adoration Ceremony Bhagavan came up to this writer and lovingly

stated: "Subba Rao! Did you listen to the continuous Sai Gaayathree chanting?",

and graciously remarked, "your father is truly immortal (Amara)". Some two weeks

earlier, before this writer could show the original Saayeeshvara picture

materialized for his revered father, for reauthentication by Baba, Swami

Himself came by this writer remarking: "Where is Saayeeshvara?" It was then

that I took out the picture from my pocket. Baba then reaffirmed that it was

materialized for my revered father. This event once again electrified this

writer's heart. I fell at Baba's Lotus Feet. Baba lovingly asked me to keep it

and to be happy adoring and sharing it, thus

re-confirming after a span of thirty odd years of the truth of Sai-Shiva!

Subsequently, this writer got the picture enlarged and laminated and Baba

graciously sanctified this large size picture on the recent Guru Pournima day

thus once again bestowing ineffable bliss to this writer! HAIL AND GLORY TO

SAAYEESHVARA, TO SHIVALINGESHVARA, TO OMKAARESHVARA, AND ABOVE ALL TO SAI

VIBHUUTHESHVARA! (G.V. Subba Rao, West 2/A6 Prashanti Nilayam, A.P. 515134,

India)

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