Devotion to Shri Sai Baba by Sanjay M. Padia

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To the young as well as the old, let me say that Shri Sainath is the

easiest Avatar to approach for your miseries. Baba is the only saint or

Avatar who required the least devotion and without formalities. Baba

Himself is equal to Rama, Krishna and Maruti and hence worshipping Baba

is worshipping all of them. In Sai Baba's charters and sayings by H. H.

Narasimha Swamiji let us refer to Chapter Nos 22, 24, 25 & 27. For

reference and information they are as under:

Ch 22) simply say " Sai, Sai " with heart overflowing. I care not for show

and respect of forms. I rest in such devotees.

Ch 24) I am formless and everywhere.

Ch 25) If one casts his burden on me and thinks of me I look after all

his concerns.

Ch 27) In the abode of my devotees there will be no dearth of food and

clothing.

These assurances are enough to indicate that Shri Sainath is always with

His devotees who remember Him. Even if we spend a little time only

thinking of Sai, that itself is sufficient. But we must have faith and

patience as preached by Baba to have His full blessings. And it is true

that 9 out of 10 people have benefited from Him during His lifetime and

even after so many years of Mahasamadhi, His response towards His

devotees is as prompt as what it was during His life. Even today, the

majority of the people find relief when they earnestly pray to Him. For

Sai Baba we need not chant so many mantras or observe so many rites. The

best recourse is to pray silently to Him any time of the day. Many

devotees believe that to please Lord Sainath Maharaj various forms of

pooja and chanting of hymns is required. In this however they are wrong.

It is no doubt very good to do a detailed pooja if one is able to do it,

but to those who cannot, it is not compulsory in Sai's case.

 

To develop faith and patience together with increased devotion, devotees

must first read the Sai-Charitra (life-history of Sai Baba), read His

leelas, etc. By doing so, a devotee will have increased faith and

devotion to Baba thereby making him perfectly qualified for his entry

into Baba's Darbar. This very reading of the Sat-Charitra is a prayer

itself. A devotee may not follow the usual lengthy procedures for

worshipping Baba but to take recourse to an easier path one must first

go through His life and leelas. Without studying Baba's life and leelas

it is not possible for any person to develop faith.

 

Baba's innumerable material benefits conferred on His devotees are in

sharp contrast to Lord Ramana Maharashi and Lord Ramakrishna Paramhamsa

both of whom imparted spiritual instructions and benefits only. Whereas

the three Top persona-lities are equal in their Spiritual and Divine

Powers, there are only two differences where Baba actually differs from

them:

a) Baba blessed His devotees both materially and spiritually whereas

Lord Ramana and Ramakrishna blessed their devotees for spiritual

upliftment only.

b) Whereas the Samadhi of Lord Ramana and that of Lord Ramakrishna are

not active after their physical departure from this world, that of Baba

is. Shri Sai Nath Maharaj is even more active after His Samadhi than

when He was physically present.

 

These two differences indicate that Baba's mission in this world is

different than that of the other two. That is why He is continuing to

help His devotees in all ways.

 

Finally let me state that if a devotee places His confidence in Baba he

is sure to be protected whatever the circumstances may be. He need not

fear for body and soul.

 

Baba's orders are supreme. No force on earth or even in this universe or

beyond can challenge His grace and order. He has got virtual command of

the movements of this entire universe and no devotee must even doubt for

a moment that nothing is impossible for Him to do. So we must surrender

wholeheartedly to Him.

Sanjay M. Padia

Calcutta (West Bengal)