Receipt of Ishta Mantra from Baba

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Receipt of Ishta Mantra from Baba

 

Baba's Grace descended on me torrentially. My life, my

bearing and even my facial expressions completely

changed. I was completely submerged in Baba's Bhakti.

My eyes were filled with tears on the mere mention of

the word 'Sal'. There was nothing but ecstasy all

around me. A strange change was experienced in the

body. As someone touched me, he got electric current

and so did I. My body often emitted electric shocks.

There was nobody to explain to me what this phenomenon

was. All spiritual books in my cupboard, which had

been eating dust for years, started being dug out.

Swami Vivekanand's book on 'Raj Yoga' which I had

acquired as a student gave me lot of insight into what

I was experiencing, A friend of mine, Col. B.S. Tyagi,

gave me a book entitled 'Dhyan Yoga' by Swami

Sivananda of Rishikesh, bearing Swamiji's signatures

on it. As per this book, the sadhak must have an

'Ishta mantra'. I told Baba that he wasn't physically

present to give me an 'Ishta mantra'. Where and to who

should I go to? And believe me, a wonder of wonders

took place. Three days later, I received a packet of

Udi from Shirdi wrapped in a paper containing the

mantra, " Om Shri Sai Sharanam Mama " . Never again have

I, or anybody known to me, received Udi from Shirdi

wrapped in a paper on which something is written. In

fact, there was no occasion whatsoever for the receipt

of this packet of Udi. I was overwhelmed to receive

this Mantra. This incident made me a firm believer

that Baba was a living force - Sadguru or God, call

him by any name you like, and that there was

absolutely no need to look for a living guru

elsewhere. The copy of this Mantra is reproduced

below, in original, for the benefit of the readers:

" Om Shri Sai Sharanam Mama. "

 

During my last meeting with Sri Sivanesan Swami at

Shirdi (who, in my view followed the principles Baba

stood for in letter and spirit), a few months before

he took Samadhi asked him, " Swamiji it is said that

'Om Sai, Shri Sai, Jai Jai Sai' is the Tarak Mantra of

Baba and that every devotee should chant it as much as

possible. Should I take to this Mantra and give up the

Mantra so far being chanted by me? Swamiji replied,

" Guptaji, you are a blessed person. Baba has Himself

given you the Mantra, You should never even think of

changing it. "