Shri Baba and Vedic Religion

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Shri Baba and Vedic Religion

The other day, I was reading the text of a talk by the venerable Kanchi

Acharya Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham at

Kancheepuram). The Acharya has empha-sized that Pancha Yagaa (Five kinds

of Sacrifices) is the best means of atonement of sins and final

salvation. The five kinds of Yagna are:

1. Brahma Yagna or Vedadhyan - Offerings to a Brahman or the study of

Vedas.

2. Pitru Yagna - Offerings to the ancestors.

3. Deva Yagna - Offerings to Gods

4. Bhoota Yagna - Offerings to the beings.

5. Manushya or Atithi Yagna - Offerings to men or uninvited

guests.

 

When I read this, my mind went to our Shri Baba. He, who had taken

Avatar for the emancipation of mankind, had endorsed by his words and

deeds the Upanishad teachings in letter and spirit. A study of Sai

Satcharita amply illustrates this. What I am attempting is to highlight

certain incidents and teachings of Shri Baba, which emphasize the

importance of the five Yagnas.

 

Brahma Yagna

Baba loved those, who studied Brahma Vidya and encouraged them. Once,

Bapusaheb Jog received a post-parcel. It contained a copy of Gita

Rahasya by Lokmanya Tilak. Taking it under his armpit, he went to Sri

Baba and prostrated himself before Him. Shri Baba told him " Read this

completely and you will be benefited " . It was a common sight in

Dwarkamai to see orthodox Vaishnavites and Agnihotris chanting Vedas,

Upanisbads and the Gayatri in the presence of Shri Baba and feel most

elevated. Yet Shri Baba knew that the study of Vedas and Upanishads was

possible only for a few. So for many, Shri Baba showed a simpler path.

He encouraged Shama, Purandare and many others to study Vishnu

Sahasranamam. He directed Swami Vijayanand to do continuous reading of

Bhagawat (to ensure continuous remembrance of Hari) just before the

Swami left his mortal coils. Many of the devotees read Adhyatma Ramayan,

Jnaneshwari and other scriptures under Shri Baba's guidance. The episode

of Shri Baba expounding the meaning of a verse from Bhagwat Gita to

Nana, is too well known. The other interesting incident is the teaching

of the meaning of Isha Upanishad to Das' Ganu. Shri Baba also knew that

for many devotees even the study of scriptures was too much. He,

therefore pointed out to them other simpler ways. He told Mrs. Khaparde

always to chant " Rajaram " and added " If you do this, your life's object

will be gained. Your mind will attain peace and you will be immensely

benefited " . Another devotee was reminded in a subtle way the mantra

given to him by his guru " Shri Ram Jay Ram Jay Jay Ram " . Perhaps the

simplest path shown by Him was the chanting of Sai Ram. " If a man utters

my name with love, I shall fulfill all his wishes and increase his

devotion. The simple remembrance of my name as 'SAI SAI' will do away

with sins, of speech and hearing, "

 

Pitru Yagna

..Let us now take Pitru Yagna-the offering to the ancestors. A devotee

had not been performing the " Sradha " of his late father. In " Sradha " the

food is offered to the pitras and ultimately everything reaches the foot

of Lord Vishnu- " Vishmi Pade Dattam " . On seeing the particular devotee

Shri Baba said, " This man has starved me and his father " . By this

statement Shri Baba made two things clear. First, the importance of

Pitru Yagna. Second that He was Vishnu reincarnated.

Sai Rag

(to be contd...)

(Source Shri Sai Leela Feb 1979)