SAI RAM


Following article is taken from issue 2 of "Mukthi Vaahini" - a
bimonthly magazine, edited by Sri Vasantha Sai Ma and a group of SAI
BABA devotees in Mukthi Nilayam Ashram, near Madurai





  YUGA SANDHI...

The meeting of the two ages

While we were in Kodaikanal, Swami told me in meditation that He would

come to Mukthi Nilayam. To confirm this, we wrote letters to Him four

of which He took in darshan. We then printed an invitation card, which

He also accepted.

17/05/2003

We wrote five more letters inviting Swami; He received these

with great eagerness, almost urging us to give Him! Overjoyed, we

returned to Mukthi Nilayam and began to make preparations for

His arrival. Swami had said that He would come on the 27 th May.

Constantly keeping Him in our thoughts, we made arrangements

for the Divine visit as though we were doing penance. In the end

Swami did not come and I could not control my tears.

A week later I was told that Swami had stopped giving Darshan in

Whitefield. Why? I was confused. On Tuesday the 27th of May,

Swami said that He would come to Mukthi Nilayam; one week later on

Tuesday the 4th of June, He stopped giving Darshan.

Then I received the news Swami had undergone surgery; I was devastated.

It was as if I had gone mad. At this agonizing time my mind turned over

many thoughts... I felt that I should give up my life. How much pain can

I bear? I cried to Swami why had He to undergo an operation. How can there

be a scar on His body? Why hasn't it appeared on my body too? He is the
Lord of the Universe, an operation! Why? I dissolved in tears.

o6/o6/2003

Swami disclosed a big secret. I am not going to write about it now, it
will be revealed later...

15/o6/2003 2PM.

I was discussing the Kena Upanishad in Satsang. A big gust of wind blew
through the house and we heard a crash from the prayer hall. We ran into
the room and saw that Swami's big picture had fallen down onto the
floor. Three statues, a Shirdi Baba, Sri Krishna and one of Durga were
toppled. We rushed to put all the things

back in their places. The crown of Krishna was damaged with a small chip
from His chin. I took the idol on my lap and wept, "This Krishna who has
been with me for so many years ... on whom I have showered all my Prema
... Krishna who was dearer to me than my very life is lying broken. I
cannot bear the sight."

After this incident I felt afraid at the thought at what would befall
Swami next. I was inconsolable. In the evening, I was due to start my
visit to Nagercoil but- now I did not want to. I was persuaded to go,
weeping throughout the journey.

16/o6/2003 Morning meditation

Swami said, "When your body had burn marks on it, it showed on My
picture. When you cried, there were tears of blood on My photo. When
your hand was cut, a cut was seen on My picture also. Now the
disappointment that I caused by not coming has wounded your heart, so I
now have a wound on My body."

I then asked Swami about Krishna's crown falling in the prayer room.
Swami said, "It is a great dishonour for a King's crown to fall from his
head. The fall of Krishna's crown symbolizes the operation."

As I am writing this I am reminded of a story from the Mahabharata.
Karna acquired the Nagaasthra weapon to kill the Pandavas. Sri Krishna
sent Kunthidevi (the mother of Pandavas and Karna); to Karna to secure
from him the promise that he would not kill the Pandavas with his
weapon. If Kama were to use it in the battle, he could use it but once,
against Arjuna. Karna agreed to this and when he shot the Nagaasthra,
Sri Krishna who was Arjuna's charioteer, made the chariot sink into the
ground. The arrow could only hit Arjuna's crown, toppling it, sending it
rolling on the earth.

The operation on Swami can create the delusion that His divinity is
flawed. Some may think why should doctors operate on the Lord? Can He
not cure Himself? But the truth is entirely different. The cause lies in
the changing of the Ages. Swami said, "It is not because of people, it
is because of the opposition from the devas, demons and other evil
forces. They will oppose for some days, but will be humbled. Nothing can
stand in the way of My Sankalpa."

17/o6/2003

We went to Kanyakumari. I had come there to see my Mother, Goddess
Kanyakumari Amman to seek- solace, a salve for my wounds. I cried,
"Mother, see how your daughter has come here to you. The daughter, whom
you sent with your blessings for marriage, has come back to you in great
pain. He has had an operation; I am not able to understand anything."

The Mother gave me a vision and took me to the confluence of the three
seas. She said, "Do not cry, a great event is going to happen. It is
going to transform the entire Age. There will be problems and obstacles.
But nothing will affect you. Your task will not be interrupted; I will
protect you as the eyelids protect the eyes." She said this and disappeared.

Swami then came and said, "Look at where the three seas are meeting; the
force of the waves is very strong here. At this confluence the waves
will be most turbulent. What is happening now is the meeting of the
Ages, Yuga Sandhi. This is the period where the two Yugas meet, so the
energy is powerful. The opposing forces will also be at there strongest,
do not worry. The changing of the -Ages is different to the transforming
of the Ages."

What 15 THE CHANGE OF THE AGES? First came Sathya Yuga; due to the
gradual decline of Dharma it changed into Tretha Yuga. From there, with
the further fall in Dharma, the virtuous nature of the people gave way
to evil tendencies and Dwapara Yuga dawned. In this Age, demonic
qualities filled the world and Kali Yuga arrived. Dharma declined
further, unrighteousness ruled, demonic qualities were widespread and
Kali reached its peak. This is the natural way that Ages change.

WHAT IS TRANSFORMATION This means that at the peak of immorality, the
Kali Age should be changed into the pure Age of Sathya. This Age of
impurity has to be transformed into the Age of Truth. Dharma has to be
established, the Kali Yuga must be cleansed completely. This is a very
difficult task. When first born, a child is pure; but as he grows, due
to his environment he takes on various characteristics. He starts to
live life according to his inherent nature, embracing worldly life and
naturally becomes involved in its wickedness. The same person when
awakened realizes his faults and struggles to transform himself. It is
very easy to become a bad person and very difficult to become a good
one. For this we need awareness, strong determination and the grace of
the Lord. Just try to change one negative characteristic and you will
realize how difficult it is. If You find it so hard to change one bad
quality in yourselves then imagine how difficult it is to transform the
entire world into Jeevan Mukthas. It is not an easy task to change Kali
Age, which is at its height into Sathya Yuga, the Golden Age. To lead a
worldly life is natural to us but spiritual life is far more difficult.
This is the difference between change and transformation.

WHAT IS YUGA SANDHI? It is the meeting place of the two Ages. Sandhya
Kala is the time when night meets day and day meets night. It is very
auspicious to do Sandhya Vandana. (the practice of offering worship to
God) at this time. So also is Margashrish (the thirty day period that
stretches from mid December to Mid January approximately) an auspicious
month for worship. Six months in a year makes up the daytime of the
devas and the remaining six months, their night. The meeting period of
their day and night is the month of Margashrish. This month is their
period of worship. In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna speaks of His
divine glories and says that of months He is Margashrish; it is
that.sacred. So also, this Yuga Sandhi is our period of worship; all of
us should involve ourselves deeply in prayer and devotion. We should
chant the name of the Lord. His name is our only saving grace in this
dreadful Kali Age. Chant the Lord's name again and again. This is our
duty at the dawn of Sathya Yuga.

As the sun rises all creation are called to their duties. Night is the
period of rest; those who were busily involved in activity during the
day now cease action. How many thoughts, problems, sorrows, pains,
pleasures, we become involved in during the day? Night is the time of
bliss; we do not feel the effects of the day when the mind is merged
back into Self. The senses do not function at night, so there is no
sorrow and man is at peace. In the same way, Kali Yuga is like the day.
It is full of restless activity that is centered on the five senses.
Sathya Yuga is man's natural state of existence. Like the nighttime,
there is no mind here to trouble us.

in Sathya Yuga, all will attain the state of Jeevan Muktha; this is the
state of bliss. Just like one who experiences peace at night after
having had a busy day, the turmoil of Kali Age will cease and we will,
bathe in the serenity of Sathya Yuga.