Biography of a Living Legend

Sai tells other saints that although they trust themselves, but their deeds are linked to selfish and materialistic objectives. While singing praises of the Lord, their attention invariably gets diverted to the high currency notes being kept as offerings! Also to appear on T.V. they waste lakhs of rupees and then obviously their attention shifts to recovering that by way of donations!
When the focus is on such futile things, how will their minds concentrate on the Lord and spirituality? When their own attention is not on the right things, how can they inspire their devotees towards achieving their goals?
The greatness of a true saint is denoted by his qualities and not on his material achievements!

Sai has emphasized the glory of Satsang by saying that it leads to the door of salvation!
Sai said that nowadays they have converted it into an event for personal gains. There is too much show-off and everyone is trying to imitate others whether it is Satsang or any festival or other such occasion. They put up 40 loud speakers and 2000 bulbs outside the venue, but inside there would be hardly 2 persons! When Sai asked them why all this, they replied that this is how more people can be attracted to come in!
Once someone requested Sai for a visit to their temple in Ulhasnagar. When Sai reached early in the morning, He saw a white bedsheet laid in front of Guru Sahib, with currency notes of Rs 100, 500 and 1000. On inquiring from the in-charge there as to where has all this money come from, since no devotees have come in so far, he told Sai that this is what will prompt devotion in the minds of devotees to contribute!
Sai explains that the glory of Satsang is remarkable. We should not treat it ordinarily with ulterior motives. We will derive some gain from it only if we learn to respect it in it’s true earnest!

Sai was once asked, who is greater, a Saint or Satsang? Sai laughingly replied, “You have asked something similar to the question as to who came first, the egg or the hen! If there is no Satsang, there will be no Saint and if there is no Saint, who will do Satsang? So, both are great and both compliment each other!”

Once a devotee told Sai that he had some questions based on some doubts, and requested Sai to answer them.
First, he said that many people say that our Sai is very modern, to which Sai replied that it is their misconception and the fact is that I am only moving with changing times!
He asked that earlier saints used to move on foot or on horses, whereas nowadays they use cars, jeeps, etc. Sai said there is a vast difference between those times and today. The air used be purer, there was not so much noise and mess all around whereas today it is difficult to even move out! Also time is limited and if we have to meet more people, we cannot travel by foot. So vehicles are used mainly to save time and not for comfort!
Earlier the saints would sleep on the floor or on old style beds made and tied with ropes, whereas now they sleep on proper beds with foam and also use air conditioners etc for their comfort. Sai replied that in those times old style beds were there and there would be servants with hand fans, which now are not available. Times have changed and these things are not used for luxury but have become a necessity to maintain good and proper health! There is adulteration in everything today and if we don’t eat good fresh food, we will not be able to maintain good health. I drink Bisleri water not to show off, but for my well being. Like for example if an army commander is alive, he can guide his soldiers to achieve their goals. Without him, what would the soldiers do? Same way if saints look after themselves properly, they can guide their devotees and try and reduce their pain and sufferings!
His last question was why nowadays so many old men fall prey to lust, etc. Sai replied that this is because they have not been able to find satisfaction in life and this has resulted in these type of vices!
Sai has always guided us with clarity about how to balance idealism with practicality!

Sai always stays in humility. When any devotee praises Him, He simply says, “This is the glory of  Gaddi, why otherwise would you recognise me? Even when you bow to me, it is actually to the eminence of Naam ie His Holy Name.”

We all are witness to the greatness of our miraculous Sai, but He always shows that He is nothing! It is a universal fact that when the heads of any religious institutions are singing praises of the Lord, they never sit with other singers, whereas Sai always sits with them and does Kirtan! He says that I always live like a student, never like a master and always keep learning. 

When once asked as to why He does not allow His name to be published in newspapers, He replied, “I have got my name entered in the Lord’s diary and He knows everything, why then should I seek publicity in this world! If a child is appearing for university exams and he is registered in 2 colleges, he would be rusticated.”

Sai always advises that we should live in simplicity and let our actions & deeds be magnificent!

In 1996, Sai’s father left for heavenly abode and on the occasion of Bhog of the Path Sahib kept in their house, the lady doing kirtan, started singing a bhajan in praise of Sai to please the devotees so that they would gift her with good offerings!

Sai immediately stopped her from singing that bhajan and asked her to always sing what is appropriate as per the occasion. At the time of mourning, she should sing something for peace of mind of the family members and not sing praises of the Guru so happily! Sai further explained to her that on occasions like marriage, one should sing ladas (humour packed songs on occasions like marriage, etc) and there she cannot sing some sad songs! Also during Satsang, one cannot recite jokes and neither when in a group with friends can you sing bhajans!

There is an appropriate time for everything. This way Sai always clears our ways of thinking and advises that one should have principles and follow them too in the right perspective!

Sai is a perfect picture of righteousness like Lord Ram. Very regular in the daily schedules of katha kirtan, very practical in His approach towards various issues and a lesson in humility! 

Once a disciple wrote a bhajan in His praise and got it recorded in a satsangi’s voice. When Sai heard it on the tape, He asked the disciple to replace His name ie Sadhuram with Ram as the name of Ram is immortal and anyone who listens to the bhajan should not feel that the composer is unnecessarily praising his Saint!

This is the greatness of our Sai that inspite of being everything, He remains humble and never wants to show or reveal anything!

Sai says that since we have worn the saintly robe, it is our duty to sincerely follow the schedule of _Satsang & Kirtan_ and not wait for more number of people to arrive, before we begin. We have to follow our regular routine, whether anyone comes or not, just like a train driver will not check how many passengers have boarded and then start the train!
Nowadays, _Kirtan_ begins at many places only after devotees come. Sai advises all those who do _Kirtan_ to be punctual and regular in following their routine.
Sai says that since the beginning, all 24 _paudis_ of _Asa-di-Vaar_ are sung in Darbar Sahib Halani. Baba Kishindas would sing 12 _paudis_ alone on the _khanjiri_ early morning between 4 & 5 and finish the balance 12 after devotees and sadhus arrive at 5!
About our Darbar at Ajmer, Sai informed that all 24 _paudis_ are regularly sung from 5 am onwards. On the day Baba Gobinddas Sahib became one with the _Divine Light_ and also when Dadi Dhami attained _Heavenly Abode_, even on these days _Asa-di-Vaar_ was done as on any other day! Only difference being that _Kana Prasad_ was not made on that day.
Sai says that by being regular this way, the mind remains in bliss! In 1992, during the Ayodhya riots, there was curfew in Ajmer and no one could come to Darbar except one senior citizen, who had the permit. Still, on all 6 days, Sai himself sang the _Asa-di-Vaar_ alone and did everything that is done regularly!
Sai has always set an example for regularity & punctuality!

Dadi Dhami, Sai Sadhuram Sahib’s aunt was once asked, “You stay with and are so close to Sai, please tell us that this Saint of such high esteem is whose incarnation?”
Dadi instantly replied smilingly, that not only is Sai an embodiment of Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh, but He is also like mighty Lord Ram for His righteousness and strong will; joyful, full of cheer and playfull like Lord Krishna and also full of innocence like Lord Shiva. In addition, He is like Guru Nanak, an incarnation of the Lord himself!

Since childhood, Sai has read literature on how to deal with religious and worldly matters. He says that every Mahant should have knowledge about all 8 Shastras including _Niti Shastra_ and _Arth Shastra_, as they have to consistently deal with so many people in different ways. Although Sai is a _Udasin_ (unmarried) Saint, yet He knows everything about worldly matters! Whenever any devotee asks Him for a solution to any type of problem, He has a ready and instant answer for the same, be it related to the family, office or finance!
Once, when a newly married couple came to Darbar Sahib, Sai noticed that the bride visibly was disturbed about something. When He asked her, she replied that her original name had been changed as per the _Vachan_ from _Guru Sahib_ and she was not liking it. Sai smilingly told her, “Is that all! Tell me which name do you like, I will approve the same!” The bride’s face lit up with joy!
This is how our Sai makes all of us happy with such ease and love, by showing us the right path towards good living!