Dasaratha Rama and Sai Rama By Sri Narasimha Swamiji

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Dasaratha Rama and Sai Rama

By Sri Narasimha Swamiji

 

Down From His Glory

The land of Persia was once ruled by a wise and beloved Shah who cared

greatly for his people and desired only what was best for them.

 

One day he disguised himself as a poor man and went to visit the public

baths. The water for the baths was heated by a furnace in the cellar, so

the Shah made his way to that dark place to sit with the man who tended

the fire. The two men shared the coarse food, and (tie Shah befriended

him in his loneliness. Day after day the ruler went to visit the man.

The worker became attached to this stranger because he " came where he

was " .

 

One day the Shah revealed his true identity, and he expected the man to

ask him for a gift. Instead, he looked long into his leader's face and

with love and wonder in his voice said, " You left your palace and your

glory to sit with me in this dark place, to eat my coarse food, and to

care about what happens to me. On others you may bestow rich gifts, but

to me you have given yourself " .

 

As we think of what our Lord has done for us, we can echo that fire

tender's sentiments. Oh, what a step our Lord took - from heaven to

earth, from the worship of angels to the mocking of cruel men, from

glory to humiliation. What a sacrifice - our great Creator became our

Savior! Surely He deserves our heartfelt worship and humble adoration.

 

We are celebrating an Utsavam today which is the well known Sri Rama

Navami day. This is the day when the Divine Light came upon earth in the

garb of Dasaratha Rama's body. In the Dwaparayuga they first hailed him

as a famous prince and still more famous emperor who established Dharma

and promoted peace and happiness throughout the country not only by the

exercise of his Sovereign position but also by his splendid personal

example and inspiring influence. Rama was the very embodiment of virtue

-the ideal Hindu to be followed by every reasonable creature. He was

more than that. He was the incarnation of the Almighty whence all

virtue, powers, goodness and perfection emanate. This fact however, was

not perceived by his contemporaries or at least by the vast majority of

his contemporaries. Avatars are not always recognized during their life

in the flesh. People are mostly guided by superficial observation and to

add to their difficulties, not only the parents and other relations deal

with the Avatars as a mere human person, but the Avatar himself

corroborates their views. Sri Rama declared " Atmanam Manusham Manye " ,

that is, " I deem myself a mere human being " - when he was addressed by

Indira and others as the Supreme. Jesus who is now worshipped as part of

the Trinity also stated " Why do you call me God? There is none good but

God " and he prayed to God on most occasions, for achieving the desired

objects. Sai Baba who is now worshipped as God also led many devotees

into the same attitude of treating him as a mere man. Though Sai said,

" I am an agent of God, I have vast powers " , he yet also added " Maim

Allah, I am Ganapathi, I am Lakshminarayana, etc " . Thus Sai and Rama

alike though treated by devotees as an embodiment of Divinity led many

people during their lives to act on the footing of their humanity. Hence

the birthday that is the day of the birth of human body is celebrated by

devotees in both cases.

 

The exact date of Baba's physical birth is not known - not even the year

is known. But when asked about the celebration of a birthday, Baba

approved of the Rama Navami being considered his birthday. So for nearly

sixty years the Rama Navami is being celebrated at Shirdi as being

Baba's special day. Though Baba with his divine glance was watching over

all his devotees at all times and places, still, on a special day like

the Rama Navami his attention was emphasized and concentrated on the

special bhaktas who specially sought to win his grace and love by the

above celebration. " Look to me and I look to you " is what Baba said and

what Lord Krishna said -in effect what Sri Sai Krishna still says, 'Fix

your mind on Me. Be devoted to Me. Do your sacrifices (pooja etc.,) for

me. Bow to Me, you will attain to Me having thus made Me your supreme

goal and direct your mind and heart to me' for This is the solemn truth.

I proclaim it as you are dear to me'.

 

Thus it will be seen that on this Rama Navami day, we remember the fact

of Sri Rama or Sri Sai Rama being ushered in a human body into this

earth and starting a career which was and is entirely devoted to bless

mankind temporally and spiritually in every conceivable way, - with

loving appreciation of that fact. If we do pooja to Sai Rama or his

portrait or image, let us do it with the best flowers we can pick up in

our joy and enthusiasm. Let us sing songs of praise etc., and fill the

air with our slogans of appreciation and gladden all hearts with our

music and inspiring thoughts. Let us go on with keertans, Bhajans,

Poojas and every other form of manifestation of our love to Sri Sai Rama

and though we do not do all these for the sake of reward, the reward is

certain. Joy and Blessings are for ever and ever.

 

A Thought

Saburi is courage, do not discard it. It ferries you across to the

distant goal. It gives manliness to men, eradicates sin and dejection,

and overcomes all fear.

 

Baba says: For 12 years, I waited on my Guru, who is peerless and

loving. How can I describe his love to me? When he was Dyanastha (i.e.,

in love trance), I sat and gazed at him. We were both filled with Bliss.

I cared not to turn my eye upon anything else. Night and day, I poured

upon his face with an ardor of love that banished hunger and thirst. The

Guru's absence for a second made me restless. I meditated on nothing but

the Guru and had no goal or object other than the Guru. Unceasingly

fixed upon him was my mind. Wonderful indeed the art of my Guru! I

wanted nothing but the Guru and he wanted nothing but my love.

Apparently inactive, he never neglected me; but always protected me by

his glance.

 

If you make me the sole object of your thoughts and aims, you will

attain Paramartha, the Supreme Goal. Look at me with undivided

attention; so will I look at you. This is the only truth my Guru taught

me. The four sadhanas and the six sastras are not necessary. With entire

confidence, trust your Guru. That is enough.

 

(Source Saipadananda Magazine Special)