SRI SATHYA SAI VRATHA KALPAM – Part I (Procedure of Worship of Sri Sathya Sai)

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Om Sri Sai Ram

SRI SATHYA SAI VRATHA KALPAM – Part I(Procedure of Worship of Sri Sathya Sai)

ByPedda Bottu

Translated from Telugu bySAI BANGARU CENTRE

DIVINE MESSAGE

Sri Sathya Sai Vrata Kalpam is a very admirable effort and this would be a treat

for the devotees. In times to come, it would be a Bible for the devotees for

Thursdays, especially for those who know English only.

- Sri Sathya Sai Baba

PRAYER

Om Sri Sai Ganesaaya NamahOm Sri Sai Brahmadevaaya NamahOm Sri Sai Vishnudevaaya

NamahOm Sri Sai Maheswaraaya NamahOm Sri Sai Dattatreyaaya Namah

AT THE LORD'S LOTUS FEET

There are a thousand ways to hail the Glory of Sri Sathya Sai Avatar. There are

songs and slokas to extol the Sai Lord of Love and Leelas. There are prayers

and Poojas to intone Sai Gita, invite Sai Spirit and invoke Sai Mercy.

As Sadhakas of the Sai Bangaru Centre, it is our treasured privilege to be

instrumental in disseminating the Divine information on the Procedure of

Worship of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, much on the lines of the age-old Sathya

Narayana Vrata. A great soul and an ardent devotee of both Sri Shirdi Sai Baba

and Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Shrimati G. Sarada Devi, endearingly known as "Pedda

Bottu", had authored Sri Sathya Sai Vrata Kalpam containing the procedure of

Pooja and five stories of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

As the authoress herself mentioned, Swami desired that the whole thing should be

made simple so that devotees would be able to perform it with ease.

After she completed the manuscript, she did not inform Swami about it. But to

her utter surprise she found one day that it was touched up in different places

by the unmistakable hand of Swami. In fact he amplified the conviction of the

authoress that Swami would grant protection to those devotees who perform the

Vrata. He wrote that Swami would grant them fulfillment of their hearts'

desires and take complete care of them at all times and with immense Love.

It is hoped that the devotees will take advantage of the holy book and perform

the Pooja with pure hearts and Divine Love and be thus entitled to Swami's

Grace and Protection.

We have initiated plans to translate the Vrata Kalpam into some Indian and

foreign languages, besides English. We also propose to bring out

audio-cassettes to help the devotees to conform to the correct pronunciation of

Sanskrit words.

The Sai Lord, His chosen instrument being a gifted writer and a Sai

enthusiast-devotee, Sri M.S.B. Prasad, has rendered the English translation of

the holy book smooth. Sri Prasad had experienced thrills and bliss in the

sadhana role assigned to him and we in the Centre are proud of his

contribution. We are most indebted to him.

Shrimati Molly Thomas has shown exemplary Shraddha (dedication) and Saburi

(patience) in undertaking the computer work. We are grateful to her.

We humbly dedicate the holy book to the Lotus Feet of our beloved Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Om Sri Sai Ram!Sai SusanVithal BabuNew Delhi 

PEDDA BOTTU

Sri Sathya Sai Baba gave his most ardent devotee, Shrimati Gali Sarada Devi, the

name of 'Pedda Bottu' as a term of endearment. It means 'Big Bindi', as she was

conspicuous by the unusually large Kumkum (vermilion) mark she wore on her

forehead. She was born on 8.8.1888 in an extremely wealthy family of surname:

Manthripragada, of Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh). Traditionally the family was

dedicated worshippers of Lord Narasimha, the man-lion avatar of Sri Mahavishnu;

but they were also devotees of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba. For three generations the

family had no female offspring. Soon after they obtained Sri Sai's benediction,

a female baby was born; she was named Sarada Devi, after the presiding deity of

Sringeri Peetham (Karnataka), as directed by Baba himself. She later changed

her surname to Gali when she got

married.

The baby was orphaned soon. Her mother died when she was but 9 months old; and a

year later her father retired to Sringeri and embraced Sanyas (renunciation).

The eldest of her six paternal uncles and his wife (whom she called her father

and mother) brought her up, though in that family of 150 members, to say

nothing of 50 survivors, the varaprasad of Sri Shirdi Baba received love, care

and attention in ample measure.

The little girl grew up in an environment of traditional learning in Sanskrit

and Telugu, coupled with regular worship, purity, truthfulness and

ever-pervading awareness of the proximate and strong presence of the family

deity. Spiritual visions and experiences commenced even at the tender age of

five.

Ever since her father had retired to Sringeri, the family was keenly desirous of

inviting the Shankaracharya of Sringeri to their home but the sage was unwilling

to make the journey. A yogi appeared in Sarada Devi's dream and instructed her

what to do to get round the problem. He also blessed her and foretold that one

day she would reach him, and that his name was Chandra Yogi.

When in due course the Shankaracharya did visit their home, the little girl was

presented to him. Her respectful demeanor, intelligence and ability to answer

him in Sanskrit impressed him. He observed, "This child is blessed with good

Bhakthi. She is destined to master six languages and to come across many yogis,

saints and exalted souls in her life. Turning away from worldly concerns, she

will attain salvation through worship of God's avatars". In later life, she did

master six languages - Telugu, Sanskrit, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil and Marathi.

Needless to add, the other predictions too proved to be equally correct.

When she was hardly six, the family made a pilgrimage to the Himalayan shrine of

Badrinath. On the way, at the foot of a tree, she found a four-inch golden idol

of Balagopala. That night Lord Narasimha appeared in her father's dream and

directed him to initiate the child in Balagopala Mantra and worship. After two

years of ritual worship, she began experiencing spiritual occurrences. A few

months later she discovered her ability to write inspired poetry in Telugu as

well as Sanskrit. Formal schooling stopped in her eighth year but she continued

with the worship of her Gopi.

Sarada Devi was married as soon as the family returned from Badrinath; and in

her twelfth year she went to live with her husband. Her parents gave her plenty

of land, gold and silver befitting their high status. As her husband's people

were living in a tiny village, to avoid the hardship of life there, Sarada Devi

was given a big house in the nearby Rajahmundry town on the banks of the

Godavari. All of them including the couple settled down in the town. But her

marital life, so auspiciously begun, soon turned sour. She bore six male

children in as many years but all of them died before reaching five. The

husband, although a gifted musician, was a profligate. On false pretexts he

cheated her of her property. To crown it all, he secretly negotiated for a

second marriage. When the terrible news reached Sarada

Devi's ears two or three days before the marriage day, she decided to put a bold

face on it lest her parents should feel humiliated and disgraced if she

publicised the tragedy. Times then were such that if her husband, though

innocent, unfairly deserted a girl, her parental home felt besmirched. Besides,

there was no divorce in those days. Poor Sarada Devi's conjugal life thus ended

when she was just about eighteen. She took to wearing ochre clothes, the

time-honoured garb of a sanyasin. She was penniless, homeless and husbandless -

but she was rich in her Bhakthi of her dear Gopi and dogged perseverance in her

spiritual journey.

Intent on social service, young Sarada Devi took to teaching little school-going

children. For some time she ran a music school of her own. In later years, she

ran an orphanage too. She wrote several books of poetry, social dramas and

songs. She was giving Harikatha performances to raise money for her orphanage.

In the midst of all these activities, she was regularly visiting Shirdi. She

was witness to innumerable Leelas and Mahimas of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba there,

whom she was constantly pestering to give her some Mantra to help her in her

spiritual quest. He was somehow or the other putting her off, appearing on

occasions to be angry too. Sometime in 1918 an interesting event happened. One

day she fell on Baba's feet begging him once again for Mantra. Apparently vexed

with her insistence, he angrily turned on her

kicking her in her chest. Deeply hurt, she went out, denied herself food and

slept that night in the open ground under a tree. Late in the night, the

ever-merciful Baba approached her and gently pacified her with soothing words.

He then led her to an adjoining garden. He knew that she had no food. He

stretched his right hand up and uttering "Allah Malik" (God is the Master)

materialized a couple of puris and a bit of khoya to go with them. When he gave

them to her to eat, she said she would go and fetch some water. He said there

was no need for her to go anywhere and materialized a tiny pot of water in the

same manner as he had produced food earlier. After she had her meal, in

pleasing tones he spoke, "Look, my child. I will come back again in Andhra with

this same name of Sai Baba. You will then come to me, enjoy my close company and

attain happiness. You are well past the need for any Mantra". He

added, "None of these devotees will be there to witness my second coming. Only

you will do so." Soon thereafter on the Dasara day of 1918, Sri Shirdi Sai Baba

merged in the Infinite.

The news was a shattering blow to Sarada Devi who felt utterly lost. She very

much needed a guru to teach and direct her towards spiritual progress. About

twelve years earlier she had heard of a great Sage living somewhere in the

Dwaraka hills near Ujjain Onkaara Kshethram (Madhya Pradesh). Now, in her

desperate yearning, she left home and relatives behind and headed for him.

After going through great privation, she succeeded in reaching him. She also

found that Chandra Yogi who had appeared in her dream in her childhood and

advised her about the Sringeri pontiff's visit. The Sage, who had already

seventy Sishyas receiving spiritual instruction from him, admitted Sarada Devi

to the order. He gave her the name of Radha. In due course, she received Maha

Thaaraka Manthram from the guru; she heard his daily

discourses and practiced spiritual disciplines and austerities and Dhyana under

his guidance. After six years of that blissful life, she was directed by the

master to return home. She was destined, he told her, to accomplish many things

in the outer world.

It was now 1940 and Sarada Devi happened to go to Uravakonda. There, in the

house of a relative, she saw a youngster called Sathyam who used to come to

that house often for playing. She spoke to him a little but was not

particularly impressed. Later, she would recall that his hair was very kinky,

that he would stand before a mirror combing it over and over again before

leaving for school!

A couple of years later she met Sathyam again. This time she saw a tremendous

change in him. There was around him much activity and excitement; people were

flocking to him with flowers and fruits and eatables; he was encouraging them

to do Bhajan; if someone did a wrong thing he was openly admonishing him. He

noticed her and said, "When I told you then, you did not pay heed to my word.

You forgot it altogether but have again come to me now. I will proceed to

Puttaparthi. Follow me there and I will tell you everything." He was just 16

years old; she was a staid fifty-four. It was now almost a quarter of a century

since Shirdi Sai had foretold that he would be reborn in Andhra as Sai Baba and

that he would then summon her to his

presence. Could this boy, hardly out of his teens, be the Bhagawan of Shirdi

re-incarnated? Should she repose complete trust in him and follow him

faithfully and unquestioningly as she had done with Shirdi Baba? She was not

quite sure and indecision persisted.

They met next in 1943 in Puttaparthi. In the meantime, he had revealed his

avatar and came to be known as Sri Sathya Sai Baba. She was convinced by now

that this was surely Sri Shirdi Baba himself re-incarnated as promised to her

in 1918. She had long and close association with Sri Shirdi Baba, served him

with all her heart, witnessed and also heard of his Leelas and Mahimas. She was

his spiritual child; he used to call her affectionately "My daughter" and "My

Gori (fair- skinned)." Now she was astonished to observe that Sri Sathya Sai's

lips, nose, and the manner in which he gesticulated and many other nuances bore

an uncanny resemblance to those of the earlier avatar she had known so well. She

could declare with absolute certainty that despite outward differences in their

physical appearance, the innate powers

(Atma Sakthis) of the two avatars were identical.

Her long search for the Master, often heart breaking, as her poems reveal, was

at last over. For a few years she visited Puttaparthi off and on. But later she

made it her permanent abode - quite literally and figuratively at her Master's

Lotus Feet. Soon she came to be known as Pedda Bottu. One of the special tasks

she undertook was to cover and decorate with flowers the footpath leading to

the Bhajan venue at Prashanthi Nilayam. She would collect baskets of flowers of

every hue and spread the blossoms thick on the ground in tasteful designs so

that her beloved Sai Bhagawan would gracefully tread on them on his way to the

venue. And, as she so fondly recorded, the soft flowers would scarcely show

that they had ever been trodden upon after he walked over them!

Pedda Bottu wrote many books in prose and poetry in praise of Sri Sathya Sai

Baba. She composed the present Vrata Kalpam, which was touched up by the Lord

Himself in His own Divine Hand! And she also wrote her autobiography in 1984 at

the ripe old age of 96 years. Simple in language but powerful in its impact on

the reader, it is an extra-ordinarily compelling book - a bridge between the

seen and the great unseen. It does full justice to the multi-coloured,

kaleidoscopic, yet single-minded progress of Pedda Bottu's soul towards merger

with Satchidananda Parabrahmah.

(In the Words of the Authoress)

“.... First of all, I had no intention of writing this Vrata Kalpam, and then I

happened to come across a Vrata Kalpam in respect of the past avatar of Sri

Shirdi Sai. It occurred to me that if there could be a Vrata Kalpam for an

avatar long past, it should be more appropriate to have one for the living

avatar who is currently captivating and fascinating the whole world....

When I made up my mind to write this I was staying with Dr. Saraswati in

Amalapuram. Swami appeared to me in a dream and proffered a few directions in

this regard. At that time I was planning to follow the pattern of the popular

Sri Sathya Narayana Vrata Kalpam, begin Sri Sathya Sai Vrata Kalpam with Nava

Graha Sthaapana, etc. In my dream Swami asked me why I was thinking of writing

on those lines. I replied, "I know no other way. Kindly guide me and I will

follow". Gesticulating with his hands in his characteristic way, Swami told me

to make the whole thing simple, commence with Ganapathi Pooja, follow it up

with his own Pooja and conclude with the Katha (story) Section. This book is

thus patterned on the lines indicated by Swami.

The Katha Section of Sri Sathya Narayana Vrata Kalpam comprises stories of five

devotees. Which five devotees should I select for my book? In my dream I had

forgotten to seek Swami's directions in this regard. So I placed my problem

before Sri Kasturi and sought his help. He said, "Whose stories will you pick

up? This may lead to unpleasantness all around. Let me think over it". That

night Swami appeared in my dream and said, "You stupid, do you think that I

have but a mere five devotees only? There are Lakhs of them. If you pick up any

five individuals, the others will be after you. Choosing a time when I am away,

they will twist your neck and throw your body in the Chitravathi River. Don't

pick up any particular individual's story; write only mine own". That settled

my

problem.

Next day, I was mulling over the appropriate shape to be given to the Katha

Section and how to apportion it into five chapters. In Sathyam, Sivam, Sundaram

(Swami's life story) Swami had declared that in the first 16 years he would

display his Leelas, in the next 16 his Mahimas and thereafter he would deliver

his message and exhortations (Upadesh) and carry out his divine programme. To

my great relief, that came to my mind and offered me a clear-cut plan of

action. The Katha Section thus fell into a logical and beautiful sequence; the

first chapter is Leela Kaanda, the second Mahima Kaanda, the third Raksha

Kaanda, the fourth Siksha Kaanda, the fifth and final one Bodha Kaanda. My path

was clear and I completed the book on

those lines. The finished manuscript I kept in my box.

Then a strange thing happened. When I opened the book one day I found that

numerous additions and alterations were made in red ink. They were all in the

unmistakable hand of Swami himself. For instance, wherever I had used the

words, "Sarva Devatha Swarupa", they were altered in beautiful script in red,

to read, "Sarva Devathaatheetha Swaroopa". Similarly, where I had written that

"led by him groups of children would go round the village singing devotional

songs and Bhajans", it was amended to read, "go round the village, street by

street, singing devotional songs and Bhajans". Elsewhere, he added in clear and

beautiful hand that "Dharma is eternal and immutable", I found that the entire

text had been gone through and amended by Swami. Unbelievable as it may appear

to readers, it is indeed the simple, plain

truth. What more is needed by way of proof to declare that Sri Sathya Sai Vrata

Kalpam, as it now stands, has the full approval of Swami? At the end, in

Swasthi, I had written that those who performed this Vrata would be rewarded

with Swami's protection. Swami amplified it saying that Swami would grant them

fulfillment of their hearts' desires and take complete care of them at all

times and with immense love.

I must add here that I had never informed Swami that I had completed this book

nor did I give him the manuscript.

Astonished at what I found, I mentioned it to Sri Kasturi. He remarked,

"Centuries ago, when Saint-composer Pothana was translating the epic Maha

Bhagavatham from Sanskrit to Telugu, Sri Rama himself, it is said, contributed

to his text. Blessed are you. Please safeguard your manuscript". I have

accordingly kept it in safe custody...”

- Extracts from the Autobiography of Pedda Bottu (Smt. Gali Sarada Devi) Prashanthi Nilayam, 1985

DEDICATION

Who is that Parandhaama, whose unparalleled Shakti showers Bliss around the worlds

Who is that Supreme Being, whose unparalleled Mahima melts the stony hearts

Who is that Ocean of Mercy, whose unparalleled Prema binds the Continents with devotion

Who is that Parameswara whose unparalleled Deeds effulge as the glory of the Universe.

That is the Lord of Parthi, the Timeless Brahma My heart ever his abode, Satchidananda Moorthy.

At His Lotus Feet my fevered brow I lay Beg for benediction, a thousand ways I pray.

Countless poems, essays had I composed In your praise, my Master, With heart

overflowing, imagination glowing.

Here's now your own story beatific Glorious, ennobling, divine.

"Sathya Sai Vrata Kalpam" For you with all my soul have I penned, my Lord;

May your merciful eyes protect, till eternity One and all who read it wherever they be.

Poorna Brahma, the Sanathana Supreme With no beginning or end;

Endless your names, answereth thou every call and cry Embodiment of every God,

total and all pervading.

Oh, Lord Eternal, God of Parthi Ever seated in the lotus of my heart, to you I

dedicate this dainty flower of exquisite hue.

May Sathya, Dharma, Shanthi, Prema

Your Divine lips ever and ever sing, to adorn, to glorify.

A SUBMISSION

Respected friends! At last, our lives have certainly attained fulfillment. We

are extremely fortunate. Parandhaama Satchidananda Moorthy, who cannot be

reached even after long years of yogic austerities or the most rigorous Dhyana,

has taken human form and we are all able to see him moving in our midst in flesh

and blood. We are able to meet him, touch him and talk to him in living person;

we hear his edifying speeches and discourses. This, truly, is the greatest good

fortune of our countrymen. There can be no happier event, indeed there is none,

one can ask for.

A number of people have personally come into contact with Sri Sai Bhagawan and

realised his identity with Paramatma, the Supreme Being. Many of them have been

writing books enumerating their individual divine experiences, and recording

their admiration and love for Sri Sai. I too have written some books about his

divine life. But I believe that this particular book is singularly valuable.

This is by no means merely my belief but a matter of actual fact.

We come across innumerable devotional books written by learned persons in the

form of stories, Puranas and Vratas in praise of that Parandhaama, who is,

however, not visible to our physical eyes. We read those great works of

devotion and derive spiritual satisfaction. Notable among such works is Sri

Sathya Narayana Vrata Kalpam, a book of worship, available all over India in

every major language.

Lord Sri Sathya Narayana is the presiding deity of the sacred temple standing on

a hill in Annavaram, a town in Andhra Pradesh. This deity is celebrated for his

readiness to grant every boon and every desire of his devotees; and lakhs of

pilgrims throng to Annavaram every year. It is a wonderful spectacle to see

hundreds of worshippers sitting peacefully on the ground in long orderly rows

and ranks, and simultaneously performing the rites of the Vrata with ardent

devotion.

The point I beg to submit is that the Mahimas and powers of granting boons to

lakhs of people are integral to the image, the idol, the representation of Sri

Sathya Narayana Swami. On the other hand, what we are witnessing in Sri Sai is

that Supreme Being come down to us in person. He is physically moving among us,

talking to his countless devotees, fulfilling their varied desires, directing

them into ways and methods by which to attain their individual salvation. I

need not attempt to describe the boundless divine Shakti of Sri Sathya Sai

Parabrahmah. Those who have seen it with their own eyes or experienced it

personally can vouch for it.

I must here refer to a true and extraordinary fact. I dare say this is a secret,

which ordinary people may never have even suspected. Devotees who throng to Sri

Sai or persons who repose unswerving faith in him, no matter whether they

reside close to him or far away, as and when their time comes, depart from life

peacefully in total repose. They suffer no death pangs or struggle or physical

agony as is common with most persons. Release of the soul from the mortal coil

takes place in a flicker - here one moment and gone the next. This is a

wonderful phenomenon witnessed not only by me but by every devotee resident

here. I can assert from housetops that this unusual phenomenon is undoubtedly

due to the Mahima of our Sri Sai Rama Parabrahmah.

The Leelas, Mahimas and celestial powers (sakthis) of this all-merciful

Satchidananda Moorthy are unbounded, unceasing and astonishing. I do not

possess the capacity to describe every one of them. So, I thought of taking

recourse to the simple form of a Vrata, which may bring out in a nutshell the

sacred life story of Sri Sai and the immense spiritual significance of his

avatar in human form. I sincerely believe that it all happened only at the

instance of the Lord Himself. There is no room for doubt that He was at the

root of that tiny flash of thought, which led in due course to this book's

birth.

In the normal course, devotees worship Sri Sai Bhagawan in their own way, do

Dhyana to the best of their ability and obtain fulfillment of their desires. If

these rituals are done in a methodical manner, following the time-honoured

framework of a Vrata, the worship is bound to be more satisfying and fruitful.

Vrata is a Sanskrit word meaning a holy ritual of worship (Pooja) of the Lord.

Kalpam, also a Sanskrit word, means a prescribed procedure, a step-by-step

order, which the devotee follows while performing the Vrata.

Why do devotees go through this Vrata and what exactly is its significance?

Simply stated, worship (Pooja) is: rendering obeisance to that Supreme Being,

the Eternal Ultimate Reality that pervades everywhere and transcends

everything. To reach and to merge with that Supreme Being is the spiritual goal

of every aspiring soul.

For achieving that goal, great sages of yore devised several spiritual

disciplines and austerities. For the benefit of those who are not in a position

to undergo those rigors, several holy rituals are also available. One of them is

Vrata.

All over India, Sri Sathya Narayana Vrata is performed. The presiding deity, Sri

Sathya Narayana, is celebrated for his readiness to grant every boon and fulfill

every desire seeking which a devotee performs the Vrata.

Sri Sathya Sai Vrata Kalpam is patterned on the same lines. As is well known,

Sri Sathya Sai, as a baby, was named Sathya Narayana; and like that deity he is

well known for fulfilling every desire of his devotees. He Himself proclaimed

that he would ever protect and grant every wish of his devotees at all times

becomes very convenient for one and all to perform. There is another aspect

worthy of note. Sri Sai Bhagawan is the avatar of Parabrahmah Satchidananda

Moorthy, the celestial Supreme Being having neither beginning nor end.

Therefore I consider that to perform this Vrata in the name of Sri Sathya Sai

Bhagawan would amount to worshipping that ultimate Supreme Being.

I beg of all devotees to bless this my modest effort. Let lapses be ignored, and

whatever is worthy be accepted. May they all generously give their benediction

to this humble sister.

Year: Krodhana Day: Gurupoornima, 2 July 1985,

The lowliest servitor at the Lotus Feet of Sri Sai Bhagawan

Pedda Bottu

 

TO BE CONTINUED

With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of Divine Lord Sai

Sai brother, M. Palaniswamy

/

 

 

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