Prayer to Shirdi Saibaba

1.    Dear Saibaba, you are my God, my Sadguru, my Saviour.  Baba I Love you, I honour you and I put my complete faith in you.  With utmost humility and total surrender, I place my completely shattered and bruised ego at your divine feet and pray for your help and guidance in my day to day life situations. 

2.    I have fully understood that whatever I am facing in my life, is my own creation.  I take full responsibility for all my actions.  Today I confess and accept that I have committed millions of sins and errors and have hurt innumerable souls across various lifetimes through my own actions, words and thoughts. In the process, I have entangled myself with countless souls who have suffered because of my thoughtless blunders.  Now, I find myself trapped in my own self-created web and am unable to come out.  I am in agony because  I am unable to bear the burden of huge pile of rinanubandhs (karmic debts) that have been following me since various past lifetimes.  The grief and insecurity is excruciatingly painful. Only you can help me Baba.

3.    Today I am ashamed of all my countless wrongdoings, that I do not even remember.   I repent each and every one of my sinful actions.  Whatever I did, it was because of my own faulty judgement made out of my swollen  pride and hollow ego.  Saibaba, I am guilty and unable to face you.  With deep regret in my heart, I beseech you in desperation and seek your help.  Baba please forgive all my misdeeds, whether done knowingly or unknowingly.  I did everything foolishly, without understanding its effect in the lives of others, and most of all its consequences in my own coming births.  I caused pain to others and today I am deeply hurt as I am repaying for the same.  

4.    I know that today all my failures, sufferings, pain and grief are a result of my reckless behavior in the past and yet I am continuing to incur more and more errors in my present life too.  The stock of my bad karma continues to pile into an enormously huge mountain under whose burden I feel helpless and crushed. I regret I caused hurt, I instigated hurt, I approved and supported actions causing hurt.  I admit I judged each and everyone around me and forgot that all are the creations of God and that all are right in their own perspective.  I forgot your teachings that nothing moves unless God wills it.  I prided on my intelligence and thought that things will move only when I will do something.

5.    Time and again I have been taking credit and doer-ship forgetting that Only God is the Doer.  I did wrong and, therefore, today I stand before you with folded hands and sincerely apologise from the bottom of my heart.  Baba, kindly forgive me and promise to protect me and my family always, life after life.

6.    I am an ignorant, bewildered and lost Soul.    But, I am your child Baba.  Right in this moment,  I offer and surrender myself to you with all my imperfections.  My body, mind and Soul is clouded by Maya all around me.  I cannot find my way within or the way out.  Please help me focus my attention on truth and bring clarity to my thoughts.  Kindly take mercy on me.  Help me stay in peace, contentment and in your gratitude forever.  

7.    Today I know that you have always looked after my welfare even without my asking.  No words can express my gratitude and thanks to you.  Thankyou Baba for disconnecting me from the turbulence of outside world and bestowing me with courage to open my heart out to you.  My permanently restless mind is finally at peace in your presence.  With my eyes cast down, and hands folded, I request you to forgive all my negative actions, of past and present.  Saibaba please watch over me and my family and bless us with ‘abhaydaan’ (fearlessness).   

8.    Let fellow humans forsake me, but my Sadguru Saibaba, please promise to be by my side always.  I have no other place to go.  I am lost without you.  Baba bless me with your divine vision, unconditional love and wisdom.  Make me caring, compassionate and detached.   Only you know what is best for me.

9.    Baba, keep the feet of this sparrow tied with the strings of your love and protection.  Continue holding my hand in your old, ancient firm grip and don’t let me wander away.  Be strict with me and scold me but please Keep me on right path.  Shower me with your divine grace and humility so that I can foresee my own faults and stop myself from hurting any living being with my thoughts, words or action.  Give me strength and courage so that I do not repeat any of my old mistakes again.  Stop me from making any new mistakes.  Never leave me alone.  I am forever dependent on you Baba.  Work on me internally.  Help me, balance my energies, heal my body, mind and soul and make me healthy and fit for rest of my life here on earth and also thereafter.  Kindly Help me, HELP MYSELF so that I always remain your worthy devotee. 

10.    Dear Sai, I seek shower of your divine grace to feel and experience my own divinity so that I may be connected to Thine Bliss.  Reveal thyself to me Baba.  Very humbly, lovingly, I invite you to come and be seated permanently, on the throne, in the Shrine, deep in the depth on my heart.  Baba kindly Bless and oblige me & my Home with your pious presence.

Vandana Mulchandani

Noida

June 16, 2020

During this lockdown, I am in company of my Sadguru Saibaba.  I am thankful that there are no useless worldly duties to be done.  Morning, afternoon, evening and night, its all Saibaba.  When my Baba is with me, then no lockdown can lock me down.  I am myself after so so very long.  I am free and flying in my Baba’s glory.  Stay Home Stay Safe and Remember Saibaba.

Significance of Chanting God's Name

SHIRDI SAI BABA imparted his teachings in various ways.  Each of his actions had a hidden meaning and a deep message for masses.  On the surface, his intention behind allowing of URS on Rama Navami day and later permitting celebrations of Ram’s Birth on the day was obviously intended to bring about unity of Hindus and Muslims, promoting feeling of brotherhood, mutual cooperation, harmony besides celebrations, festivity, enjoyment and fervour in small village of Shirdi during British ruled Indian era.

Celebrating Hindu God Lord Rama's Birthday each year reminds us of Ram and what Ram stands for.  For Hindus Ram stands for ideal human conduct, as son, brother, Prince, Disciple, husband, King etc. Ram signifies victory of good over evil in worldly terms.  Ram stands for love, duty, courage, compassion, nobility, valor, humility, respect, peace, stability, sacrifice, devotion and so on.

Significance of Ram naam -  Looking deeply we realise that Celebrating this festival each year brings up the efficacy of Ram Naam Jaap.  Saibaba had advised many of his devotees to do Smaran(remembrance).  Chanting of God’s name is said to be very important and there are so many stories about how chanting God’s name saves a devotee during tough times.  All Sai devotees can recall how Saibaba presented Vishnu Sahastranama to Shama to bring about significance of God’s name.  And Ram is special to all Hindus.  

When we celebrate Ram Navami, we remember Lord Ram, his life and times.  We read and sing his leelas( life stories), chant his name with devotion.  This brings peace of mind, gives mental strength to overcome difficult life situations.

What is bigger – Lord Ram  or his name ‘Ram”?  Saibaba perhaps wanted us to understand this.  Saint Tulsidas  in his epic The Ramayana has explained that while both(Ram and his Name) appear as One but both have mutual relationship of obedient servant and master.  Only through high level of spiritual maturity can we comprehend which is bigger.  Though both name and person named as Ram have attributes of Supreme Power yet Lord Ram follows his name.  Take his Name and he appears.   With closed eyes we cannot recognise what is kept on our palm without knowing its name.  However, without seeing its form, if we remember name of something, the same can be visualized with love in our heart.   Between Nirgun (unseen) and Sagun(seen), the Name is a beautiful Sakshi(witness).  Seekers who want to understand the secret and sacred truth of Universe, do so by chanting lord’s name and attain Self Realisation.

When devotees are undergoing turbulent times, name chanting removes their miseries and brings about inner peace.  Many Seekers chant name without any desire, material or otherwise, and want to continue chanting.  Saint Tulsidas says that Brahman(consciousness) has two forms – Sagun and Nirgun i.e., manifest and unmanifest.  Both cannot be defined or measured.  Both were, are and will be. Both are magnificent.  But Name is bigger than both, and controls both.  Nirgun is like a tiny speck  of fire hidden deep in wood while sagun is manifest fire itself which we can see with naked eyes.  In principle, both are same, yet difficult to understand.  However, with Name, both are easy to understand.  

Lord Rama took human body, suffered himself, to free earth from ‘Rakshas’, the demons.  However his true devotees can easily cross worldly ocean by taking his name only.  Saint Tulsidas says Lord Rama freed Ahiliya but his name has reformed negative thoughts of millions around the world.  Lord Rama himself killed one ‘Tadkha’ for protecting Saint Vishwamitra but his name alone has destroyed sins of millions just as Sun destroys darkness of night.  Rama himself destroyed Shiva’s Bow at Sita Swaymvar but his name itself removes all fears of the world.   His name has purified hearts and souls of innumerable human beings and paved way for their ultimate merger with Supreme while Ram himself gave deliverance to only a few like kevat, Shabri and Jatayu etc.

On a special occasion like Ram Navami, when a devotee earnestly sings Ram Naam, with or without understanding true power of Lords name, still the Lord accepts him in his court.  Saibaba wanted us to understand that taking God’s name can free us from all kinds of worldly pain, worries and fear.  If we make it a habit of Remembering and Meditating on Lords name, it will free us from detachment and bring us eternal happiness.  What better day to do it then to do it on Ram Navami day.   He chose this day to remind us of importance of remembering God’s name with Love.

Devotee Dhruv attained an eternal position in cosmos by merely chanting Lord’s name.  Hanuman ji lovingly controls Shri Ram by earnestly chanting his pure name.   

Exoteric form of each world religion preaches use of chanting Lord's name over Rosary beads

Ram, Krishna, Jesus, Prophet Mohd, Guru Nanak Dev may or may not be present today in their physical form but their name SAVES because the name has power.  These Gods listen when we call out to them. This is the only way for our better future/ deliverance/ Salvation.  Sanatan Dharma, Hindu philosophy is all about what Shirdi Saibaba sums up in one line 'Anubhav karo Satya pehchano   (Experience and realise the ultimate TRUTH)

Vandana Ritik Mulchandani

Noida

Laws of Karma

Dada Bhagwan has explained the science behind the law of Karma which I found to be very simple and easy to understand. I am making an effort to revise the same here under.  When we use the word Science, it means it follows certain rules and regulations.  It is in our interest that we understand the rules of karma so that we are more cautious and can regulate ourselves for a better life ahead. This is how we create our destiny.  

Our ancient scriptures tell us that life becomes easy with renunciation. This renunciation is not renunciation of worldly possessions, relations or enjoyments but this renunciation is of EGO. The sense of My-ness which creates inner instability. Ego is that subtle ‘feeling’ that makes me think that ‘I’ (the physical body with a given name) is doing this. For instance, ‘I have done very well in life and am holding the top most position in my office’ or ‘I have always been cheated in life and my life is full of sorrow’. The moment we take credit or discredit for something in our life we are said to have created karma. This is because when we make these kind of statements internally we are feeling pride or low. These feelings have been majorly categorized into four – Desire, Anger, Greed, Attachment. During our worldly interactions these feelings are always behind our thoughts and statements and subsequent actions. This binds karma. Once bound, we have to pay back. Good for good, Bad for bad. Nature of law is such that both these have to be paid back separately. Its not a case of bad karmas cancelled against good karmas. Both are to be settled separately. 

If whole life you have been good than you have to come back(REBIRTH) to enjoy the fruits of these good deeds in next life time. While enjoying this fruit in form of a better life, if you do something bad, you again come back. Because as human being whatever we do, we do love to take credit for the same. It is always ‘I did this’, I did not do that, I settled their fight etc etc. The burden of this ‘I’ with the intention of taking credit is very heavy and it never leaves us life after life. And why is it so????? Because we are using ‘I’ where it doesnot belong. The trick is to use this ‘I’ and be aware simultaneously that here ‘I’ is not my name or my body but the real me i.e, the soul that is ruling my body. If this awareness is present than no karma is bound. In every lifetime, whether we want it or not, if we are not in awareness we bind karma – good as well as bad and then we come back to enjoy its fruit and while enjoying this fruit bind new karma and the cycle goes on. 

Saints have explained it very well that there is great difference between 'I' and 'My'. It is I – the soul which is the inner world whereas My means attachment with the external world including my body and sense organs and everything perceived and understood there of. For example we say, ‘my dress’ and not 'I, the dress", my pain not I the pain. Here dress and pain are different from I. Dress and pain are separate from my true self. It is the EGO, that experiences the pain or enjoys the pleasure of wearing a good dress on the body and soul is merely the witness. We have to be aware of this state of being a witness – look at the world around us from the soul’s point of view and not get entangled. Our body/Ego is the instrument (the nimit). The Planner and the Do-er is the Supreme Power(the 'I' within) - the life force that permeates each and every atom in the Universe -whether manifest or unmanifest. The moment we understand this difference, things become easy. 

Therefore always live in a state of awareness that I am a Soul with my beautiful innate qualities. However, I have taken this body garment to play out a role assigned to me by the Supreme Power(that is giving life and power to the soul) on the stage of earthly drama so that I pay off the karmas created by me in previous lives thinking of myself as Ego/body garment I was wearing in that life time. 

All the karmas are result of thoughts occurring inside our mind – those thoughts on which we lingered for longer duration and developed ‘aasakti’(attachment). Therefore it automatically follows that if I want to breakfree of this karma created cycle, I have to change internally and simply watch what is happening inside me and try changing feeling of 'attachment' to that of 'detachment'. Assimilation of knowledge in this way is the key to attaining liberation. Wise men say this is best we can do, understand this knowledge and than with its ‘light’ continuously contemplate on what we learnt. Try to observe own actions in day to day life from a position of detachment. 

Feel like God and watch what your ego( wrongly placed I-ness) is making you do. So are the actions of others we meet everyday. All are working at the wrong level of I-ness. Therefore, all are innocent because none knows what account they are creating. When an actor performs his part on the stage, he is supposed to play his role well and yet retain his original identity. He is not supposed to get emotionally involved with the role of the character he is playing. He won’t be able to have a normal personal life otherwise. Same with us, we cannot get attached to the other characters in the play. If we do, then our act is spoiled and we come back once again to perfect our act – with same souls who also made the similar mistake and need to pay back or with different souls who have similar karmas to settle. 

Souls of my scene have almost same vibrations as me and in my day to day life I meet so many such souls. With some I am given such a relation that I cannot get rid of it till I pay back my previous debt. Once that is done, either of us is removed from that scene by play of situations. We do have such ‘sticky’ relations in life with whom we do have large karma to settle. Some of these bring pleasure and some pain. All high level souls have given importance to act of forgiveness for this reason. And this makes perfect sense because if we remain attached to negative people around us, they will continue to appear in our subsequent lives. So forgive your offenders as an act of favour to your own self. Needless to say that forgiving SELF too is important.  

We all are various nimits (instruments) in grand scheme of the Universe - like different shaped and sized petals that make a flower complete and beautiful.

Vandana Ritik

Noida

Understanding Shirdi SaiBaba Philosophy on Faith (Shraddha) n Patience (Saburi)

Saibaba advised his devotees to have Shradha and Saburi always.

Sadguru Shirdi SaiBaba often said that ‘Shraddha’(Faith/Trust) and ‘Saburi’(Patience/ Endurance) are mines of virtues. If his devotees could develop these virtues in themselves, they will cross this ocean of worldly existence without the least trouble and easily.

We are devotees of Saibaba. Have we ever truly introspected to check whether we have been able to develop these twin virtues of ‘Faith’ and ‘Patience’ in us?

I often thought that I had Shraddha but I lack in Saburi because I have an impatient personality. But as I introspected, I realized, I did not have true faith either.

Thinking deeply I realized that these two mines of virtues are very deep and what they contain is beyond value. Faith and Patience together hide the formula for our Freedom. If we practice both, we will experience what we came to experience on earth, our aim of taking human birth – the ultimate Sat-Chit-Anand.

Getting intellectual meaning of these two words is easy. We all understand what these words mean. BUT DO WE REALLY PRACTICE? Do we trust SaiBaba like a child trusts his parents and relaxes completely?

If we trust SaiBaba, it means we believe that he will take care of all our problems and help us out of all our so called troubles. We should become completely stress free. Having placed our Faith in SaiBaba means, we are now free from worry, fear, guilt, anxiety, our as well as security of our family, social position etc. Why? Because we have faith in SaiBaba and he is taking care of us. However, we still worry, feel stress, get confused, feel inner conflict, feel out of control, get angry and annoyed.

If we REALLY have Faith in Saibaba than why do we behave like this? These problems should not be bothering us. Isn’t Saibaba taking care! Here is the Catch. Either we do not trust Saibaba or our faith in him is only namesake.

SaiBaba advised his devotees to do all the duties of the respective stations of their lives with honesty and not to bother about the results because these are in the hands of Almighty. Lord takes action impartially. He is kind and compassionate and takes care of all without any discrimination. Even when we feel abandoned, He is still there. If we cannot see or feel him, it is because we are focusing on what is going wrong and not what is going right. If only we could focus on what we still have rather than what we lost.

If there are some tough times, God must have given them to us to help us grow in strength and character. None likes to pass through tough times, faith shakes, we want to know, how Saibaba helped my friend in trouble but not me in the same situation. Only Saibaba knows the answer to this. If I believe in Him and Trust him fully, I should be confident that He will take care of me at the most appropriate time. Now when will this ‘appropriate time’ come, only HE knows. I don’t have to worry about it. I place my request before him and let him do what he wants to do. I don’t have to repeat my requests everyday to remind him. He hears me the first time itself. I have to practice Saburi here.

When there is a delay from his side, we want to find out the answer and get restless and miserable. We fret, we pray out of fear(which is just a formality), we consult astrologers to find out when and how our bad phase will end and why did this happen to me only. When SaiBaba is our helmsman than why are we worried and running here and there? Where is our Shraddha? Where is our Saburi?

Wise men say that sometimes it is better not to know than to know. Ignorance is Bliss. Why are we trying to find out the reasons if we have genuine ‘Shraddha’ in SaiBaba. We should feel gratitude that we are devotees of the One who knows All. Why not accept what he does with our lives with all peace and calm? Have we not placed our Faith in him. We should not love Saibaba only for what He can do/has done for us but we must love him for what He Is. Faith is always unconditional. Through our faith, God checks whether we trust HIM in our ‘not knowing’ reasons for all things going wrong in our life and our environment. If we knew answer to everything happening in our lives, we won’t need a Sadguru.

SaiBaba said ‘Cast your burden on to me and I will bear it’. If we have cast our burden on SaiBaba with faith, why are we feeling burdens in our daily lives. Why do we get stressed, depressed, tense, insecure and fearful everyday. Our diabetes, BP, heart problems, headaches, upset stomachs are results of stress we have kept in our lives and we are not even aware of it. SaiBaba told us to do our duties to the best of our abilities but he never told us to worry and fret.

Saibaba referred to ‘Saburi’, as sister of ‘Shraddha’ who go hand in hand. Why? By this He is trying to teach us that once we have placed our unshakable and firm faith in our Sadguru, we must be patient enough to wait for the results because some results may be to our liking and some may disturb us. Only God knows what is good for us. Did not Das Ganu get this lesson from maid in Kakasaheb’s house? Whatever happens in our life is ultimately for our own good. Therefore, we should be patient enough to accept it, endure it and overcome it without disturbing our peace of mind. Be happy no matter what the circumstance is because trust in God is answer to all the problems we have. Once I have placed my faith in God, I should stop asking reasons for things not happening as to my liking.

We are in a hurry to have things happen our way. But God has his own ways. He knows what is good for his devotees. He may not be telling us but we should have firm belief that he is taking care. World may go topsy turvy but my faith should not shake. If we did not get what we wanted than it was not meant for us. What is ours, comes to us. What is not ours, why bother at all. We are free to feel joy and peace in our lives despite problems once we have put our trust in God. Now we have to wait patiently for God to take appropriate action with belief that it will be for our benefit. We feel doubtful if we do not have answers to our problems. It is at this time the sincerity of our faith and patience are tested.

A true devotee who has Trust in Him will wait Patiently with the firm belief that He will take care when the time is right. We have to learn to do right things even when the results may turn out to be ‘wrong’. As they say “Do your Best. God will do the Rest”. Only He know why things are happening the way they are happening. Our job is to act wisely as per the voice of our conscience and then feel free because HE is in control. This is what ‘sarvasva sharanagati’ is all about.

A true devotee practicing faith and patience knows that Saibaba will always provide a way out of tough situations at the right time for only He knows what time is right for each and everyone. Some may get results fast, some may have to wait for years. We have to stop finding answers to problems that only God can answer.

Trust sets us free from everything – worry, past mistakes, addictions, bondage, what people think about me, promotion, money, security, fears, expectations, strained relationships, diseases, grief, pain, loss of a loved one etc. When we trust we are free from botheration of finding out why this is happening to me, my family or to the society. Patience gives wings to this freedom, adds joy to the peace, gives strength of character, and connects us to the ultimate source of power.

God loves us unconditionally, when we feel pain and pleasure, joy and sorrow, mine and others, we create barriers between us and God. When we think we are separate from God and others, we suffer. Shraddha and Saburi are those virtues which will dissolve these barriers. When there will be no wall of separation, we will be able to feel presence of our Sadguru SaiBaba around us always, we will be able to see HIM face to face and understand how much He loves us.

Vandana Ritik

New Delhi

Path of Four Yoga and views of Shirdi Saibaba

Yoga means ‘to join’. The ultimate union of our soul with the God is called Yoga. We all feel pain and a feeling of deep inner loneliness because we have separated from our Source. All Yoga aim at re-establishing our contact with our Source – the SELF. The union cannot be achieved as long as we are caught in the matrix of life and death due to our Karma. Union with the God/ Brahma / Supreme power implies that the soul has broken free of the cycle of birth and death. The soul will not have to take birth after birth to work out its karma. We call it by name of Nirvana/ Moksha/ Salvation. Every soul has to reach this level of perfection. It is said that at this stage soul gets enlightened and can recall all its past, present and future. The soul can create anything it wants. The soul becomes Spirit. It attains the state of Existence-Knowledge-Bliss.

Some souls reach this state fast in few births only and some take hundreds of births and still wonder what’s the aim of getting human birth. Shirdi SaiBaba often said that we get human body as a result of our good karma so that we can work out for our own salvation/ moksha/ nirvana. Every human being has to take steps towards self realization and ultimately God realization – i.e., first to learn that he is soul and not body. Ultimately realize and let his soul merge with the Divine Holy Spirit (GOD).

We can come across someone (Guru / Guide) who will remind us of the purpose of taking human birth. However, the one, who has already achieved self realization & God realization and strives to help others to achieve the same is known as Sadguru (ascendant master or Perfect Master). Shirdi SaiBaba is one such Sadguru. He may not be physically visible to us anymore but his holy spirit is still guiding and helping many of his devotees towards self realization and God realization.

As per Hindu scriptures, there are mainly four routes to reach this ultimate destination – Karma Yoga (Work), Jnana Yoga(Knowledge), Raja Yoga (Power) and Bhakti Yoga(Devotion). Though during his lifetime, Shirdi Saibaba has thrown light on all forms of Yoga. As per ancient Hindu scriptures, consistent practice of either Love, Work, Knowledge or Psychic control help us achieve Yoga. These four routes that take us our ultimate destination called Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Raja Yoga respectively. In the final stages all these routes overlap each other and become same. SaiBaba was Yogasampanna (full of Yoga). He has given practical demonstration of all these Yogas by his conduct, action and preachings during his physical lifetime on earth.

Shirdi Saibaba has also given discourses on all these Yoga practices to his devotees as per their needs and qualifications. To be able to learn and master either of these Yogas to reach our final destination needs grace of God which further depends on qualification of the receiver. A student of class fourth cannot be given knowledge of class eighth. Baba would often say that people keep asking him for worldly comforts but do not ask HIM to give them what HE wanted them to give out of his full treasury.


Bhakti Yoga – This is path of pure extreme love and single minded devotion. Devotee (Bhakta) places his trust in his ascendant master and loves him unconditionally thinking him to be Brahma/ Universe. The Master looks to the qualifications and preparedness of the seeker, works on the mind, thoughts and feelings of the devotee and gently but surely guides him towards path of self realization.

Saibaba had placed such unconditional faith in his Guru and waited patiently for his blessings. He advised his devotees to do the same. Saibaba maintained that though Bhakti Yoga (Yoga of Love) is difficult but if one has a guide than this route becomes the most easiest path to follow. The only condition is that for treading this path the devotee has to surrender himself completely (sarvasva sharanagati) to his deity with firm belief that his perfect master will take him safely across the worldly ocean existence. SaiBaba often asked people to offer HIM two pice of Shradha and Saburi, if devotee wanted HIM to become their guide. Bookish knowledge is for intellectual learning. For spiritual learning a capable Sadguru is needed who is pure love incarnate, doesnot care for monetary benefit and is himself self realized. Shirdi SaiBaba was all this and more.

A Bhakti Yogi has to surrender himself to his Sadguru – his personal God. SaiBaba once told a devotee (who was following some other Guru) to hold on to his own ‘bolster’ and not leave his Guru. Baba advocated that we should have faith in our Sadguru, we should assimilate his teachings and follow them with patience without any doubt. So many times SaiBaba appeared as Ram, Krishana, Vithala etc to his devotees to confirm their faiths in their respective personal Gods. He sent Shama to Vani to fulfil his mother’s vow made to their family’s personal God.


Karma Yoga – A karma yogi has to perform all his activities with disinterest and offer them to God. A karma yogi is detached and does not yearn for worldly desires like wealth, progeny and fame. A karma yogi lives to serve the world. Shirdi SaiBaba gave a practical demonstration of being a perfect Karma Yogi during his lifetime. He had no family, desires or wants. He had pure love for humanity. He kept ‘Dhuni’ burning day & night. Every day he would go out for bhiksha (mendicancy) round(s). He did not store money. He did not care for expensive gifts offered to him by his devotees. He was dispassion incarnate and had no attachment with any thing of this world. He only cared for the welfare of his devotees in every possible way he could. So many times he took over his devotees’ pain /sufferings on to him for giving them relief. Many of his devotees got cured by his blessings.

Saibaba always looked after the welfare of his devotees. Rich and poor all were treated similarly and once they surrendered themselves to Baba, their problems became Baba’s problems. SaiBaba took human form for the sake of his devotees, to serve mankind, to sort out wide differences between Hindus and Muslims at that time.

The famous snake and frog story rendered by Baba is a perfect example of how karma performed with attached brings our downfall. Baba would often say we get what is ours and we lose what doesnot belong to us. Our karma determines what we deserve.
Saibaba advised us to practice self restraint, be loving, truthful, unselfish, develop good character, resist evil thoughts.

Jnana Yoga – A rich gentleman had visited Baba to get brahma gyana(secrets of universe). Baba gave him an extensive intellectual insight into Brahma and explained how and why it is difficult to understand this knowledge. So many things are to be surrendered for gaining knowledge of Brahma. This jnana can only be given to those who have attained certain qualifications to receive the same. Further it requires the grace of Guru/ God without which nothing can be made out the theory. Jnana Yogi has a very highly developed ‘vivek’ and can easily distinguish between Real and Unreal – Maya/ Illusion. Baba has explained about working of Maya to his devotees. Baba would often say that God pervades everything. Only God is real rest is illusion. Life would be easy if we can understand this. Baba advised his devotees to watch the show of their life as a bystander and detach themselves so that they do not feel pain. Baba’s most famous phrase ‘Sabka Malik Ek’ is symbolic of a Yogi who has realized universality of religion. A jnani knows that at the highest levels of all religions - all is one. Baba wanted the whole humanity to understand this.

Raja Yoga – This Yoga requires practice of psychic control, control of inner unseen world. Visualisation of God /Universe within through meditation etc. Sai Baba is ‘antaryami’ Baba had full knowledge of inner and outer world of his devotees. He could read devotees inner most thoughts and desires. He could manifest himself at places other than Shirdi. He identified himself as one with other saints and even proved it to so many of his devotes through many such manifestations. He could control fire, rain and other natural phenomenon. Raja Yogi is required to do some physical yogic exercises to keep body fit and Saibaba excelled at such practices like Khanda Yoga and Dhauti. Like a Raja Yogi he had control over his food habits. His tongue knew no taste. He disapproved of fasting preached moderation in eating. Baba’s teaching regarding how he met his Guru who helped him in introvert his outgoing tendencies and making him feel bliss supreme is a perfect Raja Yoga practice. A Raja Yogi can control natural elements like Baba could control the raging fire or stop the storm. Baba knew deepest inner thoughts of all and often said that wherever his devotee may be, HE is always with him and knows every action and thought of his devotee. Though he would be seen mixing with all his visitors, he remained in state of ‘samadhi’ internally.


From all above it is clear that non-attachment is basis of all Yogas. Destination of all the Yogas is same –union with God. So at one point all these Yoga practices start overlapping each other. Shirdi SaiBaba was master of all these Yogas- A perfect living example – of how to put such divine knowledge to practice. He said he was there to help and guide but people are more interested in worldly desires. So many times he would fulfil an earnest devotees worldly desires first to bring him on the path of Yoga later.

Like Hemadpant says it is very difficult to comprehend life of great Sadgurus like Saibaba. We can just imagine their greatness using our limited intellectual bookish learning. One has to practice and experience such yogic practices but that can be possible if we come across someone who has himself united with his SELF. We are lucky, we found our Sadguru in Shirdi Saibaba. I pray to HIM to work on me internally and change and direct my thoughts in the right, positive direction. Saibaba help me choose my thoughts from the highest point of love.

Vandana Ritik

Heritage of Shirdi Sai
New Delhi