If you look to me, I look to you.

"OM SAI MA

Give me strength to serve you with sacrifice

*

Sai Baba of Shirdi or Shirdi Sai Baba

(c. September 27, 1838 - October 15, 1918),

born under an unknown name, was an

Indian guru and fakir, who is regarded by

his Hindu and Muslim followers as a saint.

In his life and teachings he tried to embrace and reconcile

both faiths: Sai Baba lived in a mosque, was buried in a

Hindu temple, embraced Hindu and Muslim practices,

and taught using words and figures that drew from both

traditions. One of his well known epigrams says of God:

"Allah Malik" ("GOD is the Owner of us All.") 2

Sai started an ever-burning

dhuni fire, and distributed its

udhi (ash) among his followers.

(Ash has symbolic meaning in

Hinduism.)

He often demanded money

(dakshina) from his visitors,

which he gave away to others

the same day.

Followers believe that this

action was meant to help them

be rid of greed and material

attachment. 3

Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi, to His devotees, has

come to stay as ‘Para Brahma Swarupa' (God

Incarnate), Supreme Spirit, Primary Cause of the

universe and Pure Consciousness.

Baba lived a saintly life at Shirdi during the

period 1858-1918.

His actions are unique in nature, diverse in

purpose and different in character.

Baba showered His grace on the devotees in

multiple ways:

to some He appeared in dreams, to some in

physical form and to selective few He showed

His Godly form (Self).

4

Human being is subjected to `Karma' for his

actions in the past lives as well as the present

one. It is cumulative in effect. Redemption from

`Karma' in its duration, magnitude and intensity

is in the hands of God. As such, faith in God and

prayer to Him are essential to eliminate `Karma'.

`Namasmarana‘ is one of the potent sadhanas

which washes off `Karma'. Complete

annihilation of `Karmic action', arrests rebirth

and thus builds-up a state of liberation --

freedom from `Karma'. It is only through

complete elimination of `Karma', the soul ceases

to have any further life and merges with the Lord

(God). 5

Sri Sai Baba never revealed any information

regarding His parents, place of birth caste or

religion. People hailed Him as Saint and Aualia.

He did not even reveal His name, if any,

consecrated by his parents. When He came to

Shirdi with a marriage party. Sri Mahalsapathi, a

priest in a local Khandoba temple welcomed Him

saying 'Ayeeye Sai’. The word Sai meant Swamy.

Ever since, He was known as Sai Baba. 6

He used to stay in an old Maszid which He

named as "Dwarakamai" and He planted a Tulsi

plant in the Maszid. This plant is referred by

Hindus as a sacred plant. He burnt a holy fire

before Him in the Maszid and distributed 'Udi‘

(ashes) to alias prasad this prasad gives

miraculous benefits to the devotees even to this

day. For Him Mandir and Maszid were equally

sacred places for worship. Ram and Rahim were

on a Him. 7

Sri Sai Baba advised his devotees to bear Nishta

{faith} and Saboori (patience) and remember His

name. He said that those who visit His Samadhi at

Shirdi would be able to end their vows. He preached

love, tolerance and respect to other religions. His

sayings are in agreement with all the scriptures of all

religions. Regular reading of the sayings of Sri Sai

Baba and His sacharitra will free one and all from

mental tensions and worldly worries and provide

peace and desirelessness. 8

In the present day world, with several stresses

playing dominant role on the physical and mental

framework, human being is looking forward to

develop the inner spirit.

For this purpose, control of body and mind are

essential through meditation. Similarly, soul needs to

be uplifted and purified through prayer and

meditation. Namasmarana is a kind of prayer by way

of repeating the name of God (Sai). 9

The process of chanting the precious name of

God (`Om Sai Ram' or `Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya

Jaya Sai', Allah Malik, Baba and so on) with

pure heart is one of the important steps in

Sadhana. It has tremendous spiritual potential

and almost takes a `Sadhaka' nearer to the

final goal of God realisation. Ultimately, the

total effect of "Namasmarana" results in the

development of an "elevated soul". 10

Human being is subjected to `Karma' for his

actions in the past lives as well as the present one.

It is cumulative in effect. Redemption from `Karma'

in its duration, magnitude and intensity is in the

hands of God. As such, faith in God and prayer to

Him are essential to eliminate `Karma'.

`Namasmarana‘ is one of the potent sadhanas

which washes off `Karma'.

11

Complete annihilation of `Karmic action', arrests

rebirth and thus builds-up a state of liberation --

freedom from `Karma'. Then only, the soul ceases

to have any further life and merges with the Lord

(God). Soul is like an uncut diamond. Just as a

diamond needs to be cut and polished on several

edges and faces to reveal its true brillance, so

also the soul needs to be purified through various

steps of `Sadhana' -- prayer, penance, sacrifice,

service and surrender to the Lord (Baba).

12

Single elevated (evolved) soul saves the sins

of millions of people. As such, evolution of

millions of people. As such, evolution or

upliftment of the soul is important in the

process of God realisation. Sacrifice and

surrender to the Lord (God) are needed for

salvation of the soul. Desires of the body

have to be suppressed through meditation to

brighten the soul.

13

The only hope and path for deliverence of the soul

from bondage to the body and rebirth is prayer.

Wisdom derived through `Sadhana‘ put into

practice salvages the soul for eternal bliss.

Through `Sadhana', one can also awaken the

Divinity within and free the soul from bondage.

The process in totality, if pursued, would

help complete merger of the soul with the

Almighty (`Moksham'). 14

*

*"Divinity within has to be awakened,

*For this, sacrifice from human being

is needed in many ways,

*Elevated soul through sacrifice finds

a place with the Lord,

*This is the ultimate goal of life -- this

life or repetition of lives".

15

1. Whosoever puts their feet on Shirdi soil, their

sufferings will come to an end.

2. The wretched and miserable will rise to joy and

happiness as soon as they climb the steps of

the mosque.

3. I shall be ever active and vigorous even after

leaving this earthly body.

4. My tomb shall bless and speak to the needs of

my devotees.

5. I shall be active and vigorous even from my

tomb.

6. My mortal remains will speak from my tomb.

16

7. I am ever living to help and guide all who come to

me, who surrender to me and who seek refuge in

me.

8. If you look to me, I look to you.

9. If you cast your burden on me, I shall surely bear

it.

10. If you seek my advice and help, it shall be given

to you at once.

11. There shall be no want in the house of my

devotee.

http://saibaba.ws/avatar/shirdisaibabaselevenssayings.htm

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1. No harm shall befall him who sets his foot on the

soil of Shirdi.

2. He who cometh to My Samadhi, his sorrow and

suffering shall cease.

3. Though I be no more in flesh and blood, I shall

ever protect My devotees.

4. Trust in Me and your prayer shall be answered.

5. Know that My Spirit is immortal. Know this for

yourself.

18

6. Show unto Me he who sought refuge and been turned

away.

7. In whatever faith men worship Me, even so do I render

to them.

8. Not in vain is My Promise that I shall ever lighten your

burden.

9. Knock, and the door shall open. Ask and ye shall be

granted.

10. To him who surrenders unto Me totally I shall be ever

indebted.

11. Blessed is he who has become one with Me. 19

"The seat for Guru (Spiritual Master) and

Daivam (God) is the heart of the devotee.

If that seat is worshiped with special prayer

(Abhishekam) with emphasis on `Namajapam',

the soul gets purified. This brings the devotee

nearer to God.

Human being merges with Lord Almighty with

the purification of the soul. That is salvation of

the soul -- `Moksham'." 20