Sai Satcharitra-Let us all read it together, a little everyday

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Das Ganu once started to write a Marathi commentary ont he Ishavasya Upanishad.

Let us first give a brief idea of this Upanishad, before proceeding further. It

is called a `Mantropanishad', as it is embodied in the Mantras of the Vedic

Samhita. It constitutes the last or the 40th Chapter of the Vajasaneyi Samhita

(Yajurveda) and it is, therefore, called Vajasaneyi Samhitopanishad. Being

embodied in Vedic Samhitas, this is regarded as superior to all other

Upanishads, which occur in the Brahmanas and Aranyakas (explanatory treatises

on Martras and rituals). Not only this, other Upanishads are considered to be

commentaries on the truths mentioned briefly in the Ishavasya Upanishad. For

instance, the biggest of the Upanishads, viz, the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, is

considered by Pandit Satwalekar to be a running commentary on the Ishavasya

Upanishad.

Profesor R.D. Ranade says:- "The Ishopanishad is quite a small Upanishad; and

yet it contains many hints which show an extraordinarily piercing insight.

Within the short compass of 18 verses, it gives a valuable mystical description

of the Atman, a description of the ideal sage, who stands unruffled in the minds

of temptations and sorrows; and adumbration of the doctrine of Karma-Yoga as

later formulated, and finally a reconciliation of the claims of knowledge and

works. The most valuable ideas, that lies at the root of the Upanishad, is that

of a logical synthesis between the two opposites of knowledge; and work, which

are both required according to the Upanishad to be annulled in a higher

synthesis". (page 24 of the Constructive Survey of the Upanishad Philosophy).

In another place he says that "The poetry of the Ishopanishad is a Commixture

of moral, mystical and metaphysical (ibid, Page 41)".

>From the brief description given above about this Upanishad, any one can see how

difficult it is to translate this Upanishad in a vernacular language, and brief

out its exact meaning. Das Ganu translated it in Marathi 'Ovi'metre, verse by

verse, but as he did not comprehend the gist or essence of the Upanishad, he

was not satisfied with his performance. He therefore consulted some learned men

regarding his doubts and difficulties and discussed with them at great length.

They did not solve them nor did they give him any rational and satisfactory

explanation. So Das Ganu was a little restless over this matter.

 

SadGuru only competent and Qualified to Explain

As we have seen, this Upanishad is the quintessence of the Vedas. It is the

science of self-realization, it is the scythe or weapon which can rend asunder

the bondage of life and death, and make us free. Therefore, he thought, that he

who has himself attained self-realization, can only give him the true or correct

interpretation of the Upanishad. When nobody could satisfy Das Ganu, he resolved

to consult Sai Baba about this. When he got an opportunity to go to Shirdi, he

saw Sai Baba, prostrated himself before Him, and mentioned his difficulties

about the Ishavasya Upanishad and requested Him to give the correct solution.

Sai Baba, blessed him and said- "You need not be anxious, there is no

difficulty about the matter, the mind-servant of Kaka (Kakasaheb Dixit) will

solve your doubts at Vile Parle, on your way home". The people who went present

then and heard this, thought that Baba was joking and said, "How could an

illiterate maid-servant solve the

difficulties of this nature", but Das Garu thought otherwise. He was sure, that

whatever Baba spoke, must come true, Baba's word was the decree of the Brahma

(Almighty)."Gurur Brahma Gurur VishnuGurur Devoh Maheshwar;Gurur Shakshat

ParambramhaTashmai Shri Gurur Veh Namah"May the Merciful Sri Sai Baba always

shower His grace on us and our families and remove our problems and anxieties

by giving us all - strength , goodluck, success and happiness with peace of

mind.Sai bhakt,Deepa Hdebu7366