Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center Inc., Twin Cities
Minnesota, USA
Volume 2 Issue 2
February 2004


Contents
Bhagat Mhalsapati

Grandmother's Recovery

Cutting the Spiritual Cake

Marriage Miracle

Sai Sandesh

Quotation of the month

Did You know?

About Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center

Sai Sandesh

Sai Sandesh is a Monthly Newsletter dedicated to the Life and message of Saibaba of Shirdi. Please send your contributions to hamaresai@y.... If you want to receive this newsletter please click here. Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Twin Cities, MN is not responsible for the opinions expressed by the individual contributors.

About Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center.

Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Inc., Twin Cities, MN is registered as a Non-profit corporation in the state of Minnesota. The organization is funded by the voluntary contributions of Sai devotees. The Prayer Center is currently located at 725 NE Lake St. Apt. 139, Hopkins, MN, where regular Sai Satsangs are conducted and occasions of importance to Saibaba of Shirdi are celebrated. In addition to the Prayer Center activities, the organization is also involved with community service including "Meals on Wheels" and "Adopt a Family" programs. Please visit the Prayer Center and participate in its activities. Please write to hamaresai@y... for more details.

Activities

Rama Navami / Baba's Urs Celebrations

Invoking Baba's grace and with devotees help, Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center is planning for Sri Rama Navami / baba's Urs celebrations on April 3rd at Geeta Ashram. More details will be published soon.

If you want to volunteer for the event, please send a email to hamaresai@y... with your contact info.

Fortnightly Satsangs

Shirdi Saibaba Prayer center conducts fortnightly satsangs from 5pm onwards and the program includes Abhishek to Baba, Dhoop Arti, Bhajan/Kirtans, Naam Jap, Shej Arti and Maha Prasad. The next 3 satsangs are scheduled on February 14, 28 and March 13th.

These Satsangs are sponsored by devotees. If you want to sign-up for sponsorship, please send a email to hamaresai@y... with subject as "Satsang Sponsorship".

Monthly Feature - Sai Baba's Devotees

(In this section we will read about one of the devotees who served and benefited from Sai Baba.)

Bhagat Mhalsapati

Bhahat Mhalsapati, the priest in the Khandoba Temple, though poor in worldly treasures, is the chosen one to give a name to the merciful of the Saints, SAI BABA. The first of the people who revered a unknown fakir and started his worship, is this devotee. Mhalsapati introduced Baba to his friends and though most ignored him to be a poor fakir, he was one of the few to accept His Sainthood. Also we read in Sai Satcharita about Mhalsapati and Tatya sleeping together with Baba in the masjid and the chavadi.

Excerpts from H.H. Narasimha Swami's writings about Mhalsapati's association with Baba:

An important event in Mhalsapati's life that he was connected with Baba was Baba's trying to leave His body about 1886 and returning to it three days later. Baba had made him the guardian of His body and told him "Arre Bhagat, look after this body for three days. I am going to Allah. If I do not return then get it buried in due course at that place (that is near the sacred neem tree)".

Mhalsapati supported Baba's body on his own knee and when officers, including the village headman, karnam, etc., held an inquest over the body, declared it dead, and wanted it to be buried, he with the help of others stoutly opposed their proposal and saved Baba from losing His body. Thus he rendered a valuable service in 1886, after which Baba lived for 32 years to create this huge Sai movement that has covered this land. If Mhalsapati had failed in his duty and Baba had been buried, perhaps the course of history might have been different.

One incident we may mention as to how he served Baba and carried out his pious efforts. As usual, he had spread his cloth and Baba was lying on one half of that cloth, and he was lying on the other. Then Baba told him, 'I say, come on. Today we shall be on the watch. The rude Rohillla (death from plague) is wanting to take away the wife of Nijog Patil. I am praying to Allah to prevent that by Nama Smaran. You better see that no one comes and disturbs me in my Nama Smaran.'

Accordingly Mhalsapati kept awake to try and see that no disturbance took place. But, unfortunately, in the middle of the night the Nivas Mamlatdar had come. He and his peons, took a fancy to take Baba's darshan, which could be had for nothing. So, at midnight, the peon of the Mamlatdar came and stating that Darshan was wanted and Udhi was wanted, made a noise. Mhalsapati tried to prevent it, but who could prevent official hauteur or jabardast? Mhalsapati was trying to oblige the peon by getting down the steps to give him some udhi, but the noise made disturbed Baba's trance (contemplation), and Baba sat up. And hurled fowl curses and told Mhalsapati, 'Arre Bhagat, you are a man with family! And don't you know what is happening at Nijog? This disturbance has caused a failure in my efforts. That Patil's wife is dead. Let that go. What has happened is for the best'. In His anger, Baba threw away Mhalsapati's cloth on him, telling that he should not allow disturbance like that to Baba's holy work of contemplation and prayer.

Devotees Experiences
Grandmother's Recovery

 Satya Bajjuri, Plymouth, MN

Om Shri Ganeshaya Namaha!
Om Shri SaiNathaya Namaha!

I bow to the Lotus feet of Shri Sadguru Sainath Maharaj and I pray to Him to bless me to share the following Leela of His with you all. Devotees who read Sai Satcharitra or have seen movies made on Sai Baba’s Life and Miracles will be well conversant with Jamner Miracle. We had a similar Leela in our lives. This happened during our trip to India in 2002.

First, let us remember Jamner Miracle. In 1904-05, Nanasaheb Chandorkar was Mamlatdar at Jamner, in Khandesh district, 100 miles from Shirdi. His daughter Mainatai was pregnant and was about to deliver. The case was very serious and she was suffering from labour pains for more than two or three days. Nanasaheb tried all remedies but were in vain. He then remembered Baba and invoked His aid. There in Shirdi, one Ramagirbuva, whom Baba called Bapugirbuva, wanted at this time to go to his native place in Khandesh district. Baba asked him to stop by at Jamner and give Udi and Aarti to Nanasaheb. Bapu reaches to Nanasaheb’s home by the beautiful leela of Sai Maharaj. Baba helps him in a miraculous way on his journey and Baba becomes sarathi of Tonga, drops Bapugirbuva at Jamner, and Tonga and the driver disappear. Bapugirbuva delivers Udi and Aarti in time at Nanasaheb’s. At this time, Mainatai’s case was in the most serious condition and all were in deep anxiety about her. Nanasaheb called out his wife and asked her to give the Udi mixed with water to their daughter to drink and sing Baba’s Aarti. He thought that Baba’s help was most opportune. In few minutes, came the news that delivery was safe and that the crisis had passed away. For those of you who are not acquaint with this Leela please read chapter 33 of Sai Satcharitra.

My wife with kids visited India in Oct-2002 and I joined them later in Dec’02. My wife’s parents and grand parents, visited our home at Bolarum, Secunderabad to receive my wife and kids. Later in the day, my wife’s grandmother’s leg was swollen very badly, so they rushed back on the same night to their home at Kamareddy (approx 100 km from Hyderabad) to get check up done with their family doctor. Grandmother was recently put on a medication to prevent bone loss. The medication that she was taking gave reaction after 7 days of taking and leg was so badly swollen and water was coming out from her leg. They admitted her in a Hospital. She could not even walk and she was totally bed-ridden. After a day, my wife visited her maternal-home and was very upset and cried upon her grandmother’s condition. On top of it, Doctors told that the infection is very bad and they might have to remove the leg. By this news, my wife was frightened and she started praying Baba to help us out from the situation. As we all, His children, believe that Baba is our APADBHANDAVA. Baba is always merciful to his children and we know and heard of many miracles of Baba attending His devotees’ prayers, taking their pains and problems away. In the morning my wife prayed to Baba and the same day evening her brother visited their home from Hyderabad and gave Udi to my wife telling that his room-mate was just came back from Shirdi that morning and gave him Prasad and Udi. That night my wife conveyed to me over the phone about this miracle of getting Udi from Shirdi on the same day. I thought in my mind that her prayers were answered and told the same. I thought in my mind that Baba is taking care of her maternal grandmother and every thing will go fine. Next day morning, doctors checked grandmother’s condition and told to my in-laws that infection was going down and they do not need to remove leg!!!. It is needless to say about the boundless happiness that my wife was blessed. And the healing took its due-course of three months and grandmother was able to walk normally.

Oh Sai, what can I write about your miracles and how can I describe them. Is it possible for me to describe His Leela in words? One has to experience on his own of His Sweet leelas. When we hear, read or experience his Leelas, it becomes clear that Baba is not far distant from us, He is not somewhere else but He is always with us in our hearts watching our every action and receiving our every prayer and solving our every problem. No matter how much time we spend in our meditation, let it be few minutes, but do it with utmost love and faith. Oh Baba, our beloved Sadguru, continue to shower your sweet leelas upon all your devotees and let we all swim in the Honey-nectar-filled leelas. Oh Sai, continue to shower your Blessings on all of us and our families and bless us take your name on our lips every minute, every hour, every day throught our lives. Oh Baba, please continue to provide your beloved guidance through out our lives.

Bow to Sri Sai, Peace be to All.

Cutting the spiritual cake

Kiran Buddi, Shakopee, MN

Aum Shri Sainathaya Namaha! I have been worshiping Baba since the past couple of years and participating in the local activities of Baba and reading lot of literature relating to Baba. Everyday I feel there is something lacking in me and the zeal to cut the spiritual cake. I asked myself what qualities I need to develop to cut the spiritual cake and stay in Baba's path. The answer to me was simple, that Baba wanted faith coupled with patience. Just as a needle covered with mud can never attract magnet (God), unless one gets rid of lust, anger and greed, one can never attract God. Just as our soul requires food the atma or the inner-self requires meditation on Lord. Similarly unless our heart is pure and egoless, Guru or God can never reside in our heart no matter how hard we strive for God realization.

Baba said to one Mr. Thakur "What Appa (A Kanarese saint) told you was all right, but these things have to be practiced and lived. Mere reading won't do. You have to think and carry out what you read, otherwise, it is of no use. Mere book learning without the grace of the Sadguru and self-realization is of no avail". I prayed to Baba to shower His grace and keep me in His path, but is faith is what is lacking in me even today? To tread on the spiritual path is not an easy task and inner illumination is verily impossible without seeking enlightenment from one's Guru. Wealth of liberation is piled up in Guru's treasure and we must make ourselves egoless to receive His grace. The powerful Maya is gripping Chaitanya, only an untarnished and undiminished faith- living faith in living God and our ideals alone can ensure us reaching Reality and realizing God, which finally helps us to cross the ocean of the worldliness (samsara). Baba has tested several times my faith and as a result of Maya I have failed innumerable times! God tests the soul, tries his faith and enriches his experience. I have been tested and my faith has failed but still the merciful fakir has given me the enriched experience. The mother 'Sai' can never see her child fail and does whatever it takes to make the child cut the spiritual cake. Bowing to the lotus feet of Sadguru Sri Sainath Maharaj!

Marriage Miracle

Kolla Rama, Twin Cities

OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI

I would like to share this miracle of BABA with all the SAI Bandhus. This miracle took place in the year 1999. My husband went to India in the month of May'99 to get married. I was one of the prospective brides whom he paid a visit along with his parents and couple of relatives in the month of May. I'm sorry as I don't remember the exact dates. My In-laws(then, would be) asked me a couple of questions. My husband did not speak much. They left after having refreshments. We did not hear from them for a couple of weeks. I left for Poona the same day he had come to see me with my Best Friend and their family to visit my friend's mom and brother. They had planned to visit Ajanta, Ellora, Trayambakeshwar, Shirdi and other nearby holy places. I had no intention to go to Shirdi as I was pretty much disappointed when a suitable match from abroad did not materialize. He was very handsome, with a very good family and education background. I had set up mind on him. I used to fast on Thursdays and used to go to the Sai Baba Temple in Panjagutta(Hyderabad). I prayed Baba that "Please get me married to this guy. This went on for an year or so. When the match did not materialize, I stopped the puja, the fasting and going to Baba's Temple. I point blank refused going to shirdi at any cost because of the above said reason. My parents and my friend convinced me somehow and made me promise that I would visit Shirdi. We enjoyed the trip and came back to Hyderabad after 3 weeks.

A week after I came back from the trip, I came home from work one fine day and my mom told me that my husband and his parents would like to see me again. I lost my temper. I started yelling at my mom. I said "What do they think of themselves? How many times would they see me? I am not a cattle about to be paraded in a Saree so many times submitting to their scrutiny from top to bottom. What were they doing in their earlier visit? This is utter nonsense". When I cooled down, she told me that my husband did not have a proper look at me as he was under a lot of tension. When I asked the reason for that, She told me that he had lost his passport, tickets and dollars in the Bombay Airport. I felt very bad. I cursed myself for having lost my temper at them as well as at my mom. I washed my feet, went to the puja room, prayed Baba(I don't know why) and begged him to somehow let his passport be returned. I took a vow that I would do Arati, offer 1kg Peda, shawl at Panjagutta Temple and the DMRL Temple. The day dawned when they would be paying a second visit. I was nervous. He saw me, asked me a couple of questions to which my answer was quite diplomatic. My husband was impressed. My co-sister's mom who is my husband's aunt asked me whether I liked him. I said yes and he too said yes. That day was the happiest moment because I learnt that the guy who stole his passport along with the ticket and dollars, returned the passport along with the ticket and this is all because of Baba's miracle. The miracle took place between the day I prayed to Him and asked Him that the passport be returned and 2 days after the day he came to see me.

I will always be indebted to Him because this is not the only miracle He has performed for me. There are so many that I would share them in the coming newsletters. So have Faith and patience, leave everything to Him and see how He runs and helps you. I can challenge any one in this matter. Only requirement is complete faith and humbleness. I shall be sending more of my experiences in the forthcoming weeks. Sarve Jana Sukhino Bhavantu.

BOW TO SRI SAI, PEACE BE TO ALL.
 Quotation of the Month

If anyone talks ten words at us, let us reply with one word....if we reply at all.
- Saibaba of Shirdi


Did you know?

When Sathe's Wada was being constructed, some of the branches of the Neem tree (under which Baba had practised His early sadhana or penance) had to be loped off. As the tree was held sacred by all, none dared to cut the branches and Baba was approached. He then said "cut off so much as interferes with the construction. Even if our own foetus lies athwart the womb, we must cut it".

Even after Baba permitted, workmen feared as it seemed sacrilegious. Then Baba himself came and cut off the obstruction.

-Source: Devotees Experiences - Part II.


Om Sai! Please send your comments, suggestions, contributions in the form of features, quotations and experiences to hamaresai@y.... Please forward this to all who will be interested.