Month: June 2022

During the month of shradh, whatever samagri is put in the pind, at the time of puja, reaches the sky, pataal (place underneath the earth) and water. Our shastras say that what we feed the crow, reaches the sky; for pataal we feed the cow and all the leftovers in the pind are submerged in the sea and consumed by different living creatures there! Crow has been known to be an intelligent bird, cow is a sacred mother and the living creatures in the sea, where nothing much is provided for them, these materials when submerged are consumed by them. This way Sai teaches us to follow the path shown by our shastras.

On the day of umas (no-moon day) , during the shradh period, also the last day of shradh, Sai organises meals for bhrahmins, nyanis (unwed girls) and the poor! Sai does this for about 2500 nyanis and also gifts them some amount. It is said that one nyani is equivalent of 100 brahmins! 

Sai says that disciples, especially those staying abroad, who are not aware about the tithis ie important dates as per Hindu calender e.g. one on which their elders had passed away or even those who are not very affording and cannot organise such meals, on behalf of all such devotees, Sai organises this large scale bhandara. He says that being a father of all my disciples, it is my duty to do this on their behalf!

During the days of shradh, the devotees send kadhi chawal to Darbar Sahib practically everyday and Sai without fail, eats a little from that saying that one who prepares all this with so much devotion and takes the trouble of bringing it here, how can I not accept the same?

In Sep 2009, when Sai’s maternal uncle Dr Mohan passed away in Delhi, Sai could not immediately leave, as it was Satyanarayan that day. Sai said that many devotees visit Darbar Sahib this day and I am duty-bound. After everything got over, Sai left for Delhi, completed the funeral rituals and came back. Four days later, His aunt came to Ajmer, after concluding the Bhog Sahib of Akhand Path kept there. She was very sad and heartbroken. Sai went to their house to console her and the children and give them the strength to bear the loss. Sai said, “All human beings have come alone and will depart alone. He was born alone to his parents like you were born to your parents. This was an in-between union between you both, as destined by the Lord, who is Supreme and has an incredible computer. No one can evade what is destined. The ever powerful Lord’s actions are strange which no one can explain or comprehend. We must always accept and bow in front of His verdict and judgement. Thank Him as He has saved the uncle from any misery or suffering during his last moments. Sitting on his chair, while working and without getting stuck in any attachment, he has gone peacefully. Such an end is rare and mostly very saintly and spiritually advanced souls get this privilege.”
This way Sai explained everything to His aunt and she could slowly slowly muster courage to accept and face the reality. Inspite of being a fully accomplished saint, yet Sai also fulfills His duties towards His personal relations!

During the days of shradh, when as a ritual, brahmins are offered meals in remembrance of close family members who are no more, one lady devotee came for seva to Darbar and told Sai that my son and other children insisted that you go for seva and we shall do the needful. Sai said, “When I myself am so strict about rules and principles, how can I ask you to be here for seva. Your first duty is towards your family, so go home and make the necessary preparations to feed the brahmin and let your children follow this later after you.”
Even those disciples, devotees who come to Darbar everyday, Sai always advises them to first look after their families, as that is their prime duty. Especially when there is any eventuality in any devotee’s house, Sai does not permit them to come to Darbar. Sai says that compassion and compatibility is very essential between family members in order to perform their duties towards each other. If the wife is a devotee of God and the husband is a drunkard, it becomes difficult to fulfill the duties. If the husband is religious minded and wife is extra socializing types and without any devotion towards God, again it creates difficulties. Good feelings are a requisite between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law also and if that is not the case, even good deeds done in the past will be lost because of this.
Sai in this way gives us advise with clarity and assures us that He is always with us even when we are discharging our duties towards our family!

Sai has often said that our deeds (karmas) play a very significant role in our lives. Our duty is to merely perform our deeds and not think of the fruits or results, as that is completely in Lord’s hands! It is our deeds which take us to places and the implications are so complicated that none other, but the Lord alone knows our destiny!
Everything is karma and these are linked to us since many births for which we have to account and pay for! No one can be blamed for this.
Sai always advises that to improvise our karmas, the only thing we need to do is to perform our duties well. Performance of duties alone can save us from the consequences of our bad karmas and uplift us. Sai has always set an example by following this himself! At the time when Sai’s father passed away, as is the practice to bow in front of the brahmin, Sai were the first to get up and bow in front of the maharaj present there, who immediately reacted by saying, “You yourself being such an highly acclaimed saint, why are you bowing in front of me?” Sai said, “Today I bow to you not as a saint but in the capacity of an eldest son of the deceased!”
Such are the highest standards of our Sai in thoughts and practice, as set and followed by Him and a lesson for us!