Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center Inc., Twin Cities
Minnesota, USA
Volume 2 Issue 6
June 2004


Contents
Mrs. Manager

Avatar Meher Baba’s Message

Shirdi Dust - Miracle

Vi-Chitra Yatra

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@yahoo.com. If you would like 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@yahoo.com for more details.

Activities

SSPC Office 2004-05 Selection

Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, is running with Baba's grace and devotees' support, since the Guru Poornima of 2002. Every year a office is selected by devotees, from volunteer devotees to manage the activities of the Prayer Center.

Request to all Sai bandhus, to come forward and volunteer for one of the responsibilities. The office consists of President [selected from those who served atleast one year on the committee], Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Executive Committee which includes Member(s) for Prayer Center Co Ordination, Finance, Event Co Ordination, Education, Communications, Community Service and Public Relations. For more details please visit the website www.hamaresai.org.

Please email your nomination to hamaresai@yahoo.com by June 17th. The devotee meeting to select the new office will be between 7:45-8:15pm, during the Satsang on Saturday June 19th at the Prayer Center.

Please nominate yourself and/or be present to select and congratulate the new team!

Guru Poornima Celebrations

With Baba's grace and devotees' support, we will be celebrating Guru Poornima on Saturday July 3rd at Geeta Ashram, Brooklyn Park, MN. If you would like to volunteer, sing bhajans, share your experiences, please send a email to hamaresai@yahoo.com with "Guru Poornima 2004" as the subject.

More details will be available on the website [www.hamaresai.org] soon.

Daily Services

Please note that the Prayer center is open all days of the week. Sunday-Friday prayer center is open from 6:30pm to 9pm and on Saturdays 5:00pm - 9:00pm.

If you would like to volunteer for any weekday service [for a month], please send us a email at hamaresai@yahoo.com with subject 'Daily Service Signup' or you can signup the calender at the prayer center.

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 2 satsangs are scheduled on June 19th, July 17th.

These Satsangs are sponsored by devotees. If you would like to sign-up for sponsorship, please send a email to hamaresai@yahoo.com 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.)

Mrs. Manager

In a rare observation on Baba, Mrs. Manager, a Parsi devotee, said "One noticeable difference between Baba and other Saints struck me. I've moved with other notable Saints also. I have seen them in high samadhi or trance condition, entirely forgettng their body and surroundings, and later getting into conscious and knowing what is in our mind and replying to us. But with Baba, there was this peculiar feature. He had not to go into a trance to achieve anything, or to reach any higher position or knowledge. He was every moment exercising a double consciousness, one actively using the Ego call Sri Sai Baba and dealing with other Egos in temporal or spiritual affairs, and the other entirely superseeding all Egos and resting in the position of the Universal Soul or Ego; He was exercising and manifesting all the powers and features incidental to both the states of consciousness. Other Saints would forget their body and surroundings and then return to it, but Sri Sai Baba always was in and outside the material world."

Following are the excerpts from her interview [as recorded in "Devotees Experiences by Sri B.V. Narasimha Swami ji]:
It is very difficult to describe Sai Baba and our experience of Him, but one may talk about some things relating to Him.

My Daughter took ill when she was fifteen months old and I was sore distressed. Just then my bother-in-law came back from Shirdi and was sounding the high praise of Sai Baba. I then said that if the child recovered, we should go with our child to Shirdi and pay our respects to Baba. The child recovered and we went up to fulfil our vow.

One's first impression of Sai Baba was derived from His eyes. There was such power and penetration in His glance that none could continue to look at His eyes. One felt that Sai Baba was reading him/her through and through. Soon one lowered one's eyes and bowed down. A few words, a gesture would reveal to one that Sai Baba knew all about the past, present and even future and about everything else. There was nothing else to do for one, except to submit trustfully and to surrender oneself to Him. And there He was to look after every minute detail, and guide one safely.

I shall give some instances of His Antaryamitva, that I personally got or learnt of in the early days of my stay at Shirdi. Shirdi in those days was a neglected hamlet without any lighting, sweeping and other conveniences of civilization. It had some improvement since. But when I was there, the streets and passages were all dark and unlit at night. One night I was walkng about. But suddenly and abruptly I stopped. There was no sound or sight to account for my stopping. For some unknown reason I felt I must stop and I did. A little time passed and a light was brought by somebody and there Lo, and behold! At the very place where I was to have placed my foot at the next step, there was a serpent lying quiet. Ofcourse, if I had put my foot, the consequences might have been very serious, if not fatal. The light showed what the danger was that I escaped. But I could not have sensed / guessed of its existance by my own power, in the absence of light. Why and how had I stopped so abruptly and how did the light come in so opportune a moment to show me the danger? The only answer is the "all seeing and ever watchful power and protective grace of Sai Baba".

To take another instace, Once as I was seated at a short distance from Sai Baba, there came a leper to the Mosque. His disease was far advanced. He was stinking and he had little strength left in him, so that it was with much difficulty and very slowly, he clumbered up the three steps of the Mosque, moved to the Dhuni and then to Sai Baba and placed his head on Baba's feet. It took so much time for him to take his darshana, and I feeling the scrunch from him intensely, hoped he would clear off. At last when he got down slowly carrying a small parcel wrapped up in a dirty cloth, I felt relieved and said within myself, "Thank God. He is off". Sai Baba at once darted a piercing glimpse at me and I knew that He read my thought. Before the leper had gone far, Saibaba called out and sent someone to fetch him back. The man came back, It was again the slow process of his clambering up, emitting foul scrunch all the time and as the man bowed to Baba, Baba picked up that parcel saying "What is this?", and opened it. It contained some pedas [milk sweets], and Sai Baba took up one piece and gave it to me alone of all present and asked me to eat it. What horror!! To eat up a thing brought by the stinking leper! But it was Sai Baba's order, and there was no option but to obey. So I ate it up. Sai Baba took another piece and Himself swallowed it and then sent the man away with the remainder. Why he was recalled and I alone was the chosen recipient of his peda, none then understood. But I knew full well that Sai Baba had read my heart and was teaching me valuable lessons, in humility, fraternity, sympathy, endurance and trust in His supreme wisdom rather than in my own notions of hygene and sanitation for saving me from disease.

--Source: Devotees Experiences by Sri B.V. Narasimha Swami ji.

Devotees Contributions
Avatar Meher Baba’s Message

Kiran Buddi, Shakopee,MN

This is very critical period of Avataric Age and all His lovers must strive to their utmost to hold His Daaman very firmly so that it does not slip out of their hands under any circumstances.

It is very important for all His lovers, especially in this critical period not to succumb to lust, tempatations are and will be great, but your love for Him should be greater, Remember Him Wholeheatedly and rise swiftly from where you have fallen to march ahead in His love and service.

It is equally important at this critical period of Avtaric Age to beware at all times of persons who lead others into believing that they are saintly and pious and profess to possess supernatural powers. However pious such persons appear to be,a Baba-Lover must never mix such piety with the Divinity of the Avatar !

A true Baba-lover must remember the repeated warning given to all Baba-Lovers in time and again to stay away from persons who feel and Assert that they are masters and saints and possess powers to help human beings. His lovers and workers should never get involved with such persons and affairs, much less with perverted "helpers of humanity" who have no reverence or regard for the Perfect Masters and the Avatar of Age. Beware of them who exploit spirituality to gain their selfish ends and dupe others in the name of Sadgurus and the Avatar. His lovers and workers should not get intimately involved with the Family affairs of one another, and they should not be emotionally upset by the personal affairs concerning any of their families. They should NOT let any personal affairs vitiate their relationships with one another, or affect their efforts in the work they do for the cause of Truth. He wants His lovers and workers who are spreading His message of Love To others, to share His love among themselves and to uphold the spirit of harmony and understanding in His name. He wants them to be not aggressive towards others; above all He wants them to love Him wholeheartedly for He is the Ancient One who loves them more than they can ever love themselves.

(Meher Baba, through Adi K. Irani, July 1968)

Devotees Experiences
The Healing power of Shirdi’s road-side dust

 Satya Bajjuri, Plymouth, MN

OM Shri Ganeshaya Namaha!
OM Shri Sainathaya Namaha!

I bow to the Lotus feet of Sri Sadguru Sainath Maharaj and pray for His blessings to share the following Sweet Leela of His. I used to have skin-rash at the bottom of my left feet in year 2001. I suffered with it for nearly 2 years (2001 & 2002). In the year 2001, bottom part of my left feet had skin-rash started in the center of bottom-part of the feet. Initially I ignored it, but in next six months, the whole bottom part of the feet had skin-rash. At times it was itching. And due to the old-skin was falling-off and new skin was regenerating, that part became sensitive. By ignorance if I stepped with my bare foot on to any un-even object it used to hurt me. Initially for first 6 to 9 months I ignored, thought it would go away and prayed to Baba. Later, I approached a doctor who gave me skin-ointment and told me to apply for few weeks, it should go away in 4 to 6 weeks. But it didn’t. Then after six months I approached another doctor but no result. Skin rash even spread into between fingers from bottom part and slowly started appearing on top-part of the left-foot. This made me concerned, until now (for last 12 to 16 months), it was just to the bottom and was not noticeable to others, but when it started appearing on top, it made me concerned. Prayed to Baba and eagerly waiting for His miraculous healing. Miraculously, it stopped spreading on top part with out any big treatment. Few months passed and in Dec 2002, I visited India. We went to Shirdi along with my brother’s family. Trip was for one-night stay and two days. We visited Samadhi mandir and Dwarakamai and had pleasant darshans and joyful experiences. After Shej arati, we inquired with some locals about morning “Kakad Arati” sevas and about queues. Me and my brother decided that we will comeback to temple in the mid-night to stand in the queue for Kakad Arati. Our lodge is around 1 km away from Temple.

We got up at 1:30 a.m., took bath and started to temple. And since it was mid-night, my brother stopped me from wearing shoes as he was not sure shoe-hall will be open or not. But I was hesitating as I had skin-rash, and my feet was sensitive to walk bare-feet on that granite-stone filled street. But I cannot explain my problem to my brother. After couple of minutes, hesitatingly I started with my bare-foot doing Sai-nama-japa and walking in the streets. It was cold (December) plus as and when my leg fell on granite-stones, pain is doubling up. Fortunately, it helped me do the nama-japa with more concentration (due to the pain I was having). And after few minutes I forgot my pain and totally immersed in nama-japa. We reached the temple and waited in the queue. Morning at 5 a.m. we are blessed with Sai darshan and seen the Kakad Arati and abhishekam. My heart and body filled with joy, eyes filled with joyful tears. It’s so nice and memorable experience to have morning darshan, and hope that this experience will stay fresh in my memories as long as I live. Later in the day, when I realized that I walked in those streets with my bare foot where Baba walked 100 years ago with His bare foot, it made me or gave me enormous joy. By getting into contact with this holy dust, I felt like I touched Baba’s feet by touching Shiridi dhuli (dust). How blessed I am, cannot express in words. Baba blessed me with such a great experience. Even today, when I remember the morning-walk in Shirdi my heart is filled with joy. Its needless to say, as you might have guessed, skin-rash got totally cured in less than two weeks. The rash, which could not be treated by medicines for years, was treated by holi-dust of Shirdi streets. That’s the power of road-side dust of Shirdi. The miraculous healing power of holi-dust. I have a sincere suggestion to all fellow devotees, next time when you visit Shirdi, try your best to attend Kakada Arati Darshan. The devotees who can get into the Samadhi Hall for Kakada Arati (and to get into Hall, one need to be in the front part of the queues), will be allowed to sit in the Hall for an hour or more, and can watch the beautiful Kakad Arati, Abhisekham to our dear Lord, chant Purusha Suktam, Vishnu Sahasra Nama. The joy I got cannot be explained. It’s a blessing!! One has to experience this to understand. I would like to end this experience sharing with paryer to our Dear Lord. Oh Baba! Our beloved Sadguru, continue bless us with your sweet leelas. Bless us all, your children to share our joys together by sharing and remembering your sweet leelas every day. Oh Baba, Please bless us and our families, continue to provide your merciful guidance throughout our lives. Jai Sairam.

Bow to Sri Sai, Peace be to all.

Vi-Chitra Yatra

Satya Chelluri, Woodbury, MN

With the blessings of Sadguru Saibaba of Shirdi, would like to share the blessings received from Him. Earlier with His grace I could share how He blessed us to be part of Sai Chitra Yatra. This time I would like to share the recent Shirdi Yatra experience with all of you.

We visited India this April and since it will be hot and will be 1st trip to India for our daughter who was born here in Minnesota, we planned it to be a well spaced one and we had just two days for Shirdi. Inside our hearts, we had the desire strongly to spend more time there, but had to accept that it will not be possible.

Our journey started on the 9th and we reached Hyderabad on 11th morning there. Surprisingly [ofcourse with Baba's grace], our daughter was taking the weather well in Hyderabad. Her good mood encouraged us to go to Bhubaneswar and spend time with my spouse's sisters and father. On 18th we started for Bhubaneswar and reached same morning there. But within a couple of hours, our little one had boils and she was restless. As none of us had homes with Air Conditioning, with our host's [my co-brother] help we moved to a guest house that had a/c suite. Just a few minutes later, she just went to sleep and when she woke she had the first meal in a long time. The next night we returned back to Hyderabad, cutting short a planned week long trip.

Back in Hyderabad, she had fever and was getting restless. Did not know what to do, other than take to a pediatrician and get her some medicines. The medicines were slow in help. At one point we were not sure if we will make the Shirdi trip. As my daughter was still not recovering, I said to my Baba, "Please help by reducing the illness, and if she recovers, I will come to your masjid and stay for 5 days.". In the hope that she would be alright I called the travel agency and booked seats on a a/c sleeper. As I was required to be present for the confirmation with cash, they just blocked the seats for us. The next day, though there was not much of relief I went out to confirm the tickets. Just then I passed by one more travel agency and when I enquired they said that they can book rooms in a 3-star hotel, so that we can get a/c accomodation. I just thought I will go to the agency where I booked the bus tickets and check with them and they could not arrange for any a/c accomodation. Then I went back to the other agency and booked accomodation for our stay.

Slowly there was some improvement in our daughter. We reached on Thursday morning Shirdi and checked into our hotel. After getting refreshed and having had our breakfast, we went and got into queue for the Madhyahna arti. Luckily we had got in the early lines to get into the Samadhi Mandir for the Arti and we could sing arti looking at His powerful, graceful, loving face. All through the arti and darshan, my heart was just struck with one thoguht, "How blessed I am that on a Thursday, standing in Samadhi Mandir, I am signing His arti". Normally we plan to visit Shirdi when there is less crowd so that we can get easy darshan. But our lovely Baba had His own plan.

That evening I was keen to attend the Palki Utsav, but my spouse didnot want to miss the Shej Arti and she was suggesting that we see the Palki utsan on Close-circuit TV. I just asked her, let us see the Palki utsav first and then we will see. We got into the Dwarakamai and just then the Palki decoration was going on. We just touched the Palki and we were told to go to one of the sides. I was lucky to get position just by the side of the steps. There was a beautiful view of the complete part of the Palki procession that happens in the Dwarakamai. Yes, this was Baba's plan for me, to realise my dream of seeing Palki Utsav in Shirdi on the Thursday night!

Just that afternoon after the Madhyahna arti, as my daughter was not feeling well, my wife said, she is not able to take the heat here, let us go. I was reluctant [even my wife was, but the mother in her said "Let us go!"]. As there was no agreement, we put chits and asked out daughter to pick one and she chooses to STAY!! That was Baba telling us, "Children, just wait and see!!!". After seeing the Palki utsav, my wife was no more in a mood to leave.

The next few days we just were staying in this nice hotel and enjoying good food and attending the artis. Ofcourse our little Baba, our daughter was having the BEST TIME OF HER TRIP!. Baba knew that since we were staying with our family and we cannot accomodate our daughter in good comfort, Baba planned us to stay 5 days and 4 nights at His abode and arranged for a comfortable accomodation for His little blessing [our daughter]. From the 2nd day of our Shirdi, we were saying "This is our vacation! Like a grand parents home, we were being well taken care of, good food, accomdation, nice darshans".

Just want to conclude with one more thought, that he drew into my mind as I was waiting for the Arti and Abhishekam, and at times just watching it on the CC TV. It looked as if he was smiling and saying "Look my child I've come all the way to Minneapolis to be with you and also to give you all the chance to do Artis and Abhishekam to me just like the priests are doing here. You are all my priests, just come and seve me!!! I would like all Sai bandhus reading this to come to the Prayer Center and serve our master, the loving Sadguru and get His blessings. Let us fill the prayer center with our longing hearts and fill in His glory into them with the benefit of His service.

Bow to Sri SAI, Peace be to ALL!!!!

Quotation of the Month

"My eye is ever on those who love me, Whatever you do, wherever you may be, ever bear this in mind, that I am always aware of everything you do."
- Saibaba of Shirdi


Did you know?

Nana Saheb Nimonkar acted as a "banker" for Saibaba! During the years he stayed with Baba (1916-18), as funds came by Baba would hand them over to Nimonkar later to be spent on his behest for purchasing firewood, sweetmeats etc.
-- Source: Devotees' experiences of Sri Saibaba by BV Narasimhaswami ji.


Notice - Receipts for contributions
The receipts for devotees' monetary contributions shall be mailed to the devotee address that is printed on the check. Devotees are humbly requested to make sure the correct address appears on the check. If you have moved to a new address please strike the old address and print correct address. Please retain your receipts for tax benefits under section 501(c)(3) of IRS code.

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


__________________________________________________________
Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Inc.,Twin Cities - MN
(A Non-profit, Non-sectarian, Spiritual Learning Center, Tax ID 03-0473843)
Donations to Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center are Tax-Deductible.
725 Lake ST NE, Apt #139, Hopkins MN * Tel: (952) 938 2983 Fax: (810)452 6141
Web: http://www.hamaresai.org * Email: hamaresai@yahoo.com