Sai and bhiksha

While at Shirdi, Sai used to take bhiksha(beg)from the people of shirdi. People used to give rotis, rice, butter milk, rasam etc., to baba. Sai would eat after mixing all the food given by people. Sai never cared for taste as he had perfect control of the senses. He would put all the food he got from bhiksha in a mud vessel from which even dogs and other animals also used to eat. Sai never stopped anyone who took food from his vessel. Such is his greatness.

Samartha sadguru sainath maharaj ki jai !!

Shirdi Sai's Prayer

Sadaanimba vrukshasya mooladhivaasaath
Sudha sraavinam tikta mapyapriyantham
Tarum kalpavrukshadhikam saadhayantham
Namameeswaram sadugurum sayinaatham.

Meaning :

By living at the base of the neem tree which is full of bitterness u made it a kalpavruksha (a tree that satisfies all the desires). Oh Sadguru! i bow to you.

Shyama's snake bite and Baba

Once Shyama, the priest of Khandoba Mandir was bitten by a snake. The poison started spreading in the entire body. shayama rushed to Baba but Baba shouted saying " Oh timid priest dont come up! Go down! Goaway!". Shyama was dejected as he had no other resort except for Sai. After sometime baba calmed down and came near Shyma. Baba then told Shyama not to get frightened and asked him to go home and take rest.

After a few hours shyama started feeling better and was alright with in a short time. Baba's words " Dont come up! Go down! Goaway!" were intended for snake's poison and not for Shyama. Baba neither used any mantra nor any teertham ( holy water) for saving Shyama. His words alone were sufficient to save Shyama's life from the snake bite.

The Tendulkar family and saibaba

The Tendulkar family members were residents of Bandra in Mumbai. They were true devotees of Saibaba. Savitribai Tendulkar wrote Sri Sainath Bhajanmala describing the saileelas. Their son Babu Tendulkar was studying hard for medicine and wanted to appear for the exams that year. But some astrologers who examined his horoscope told them that planets were not in his favour that year and advised him not to appear for his exams that year. This made him restless and depressed. After some days his mother went for sai darshan and told baba about her son's condition. Sai then told her to let her son study hard and appear for the exams that year ignoring all the astrologer's predictions.

Savitri bai went back and conveyed baba's message to her son. Babu felt relieved and studied hard and appeared for written exams. He didnt appear for the practical exams thinking he would get the required marks for passing. But the examiners sent a word to him that he cleared written exams and asked him to appear for the practicals. He then appeared for practicals also and cleared his medicine that year.

Difficulties and doubts surround us to make our devotion stable and strong. If we continue to put our efforts with true devotion towards baba our efforts would be fruitful.

Sai Satyavratam - How and when it started ?

In southern India people normally perform Satyarayana swamy vratam on auspicious occasions like after marriage, on construction of a new home etc, But here is how the sai satyavratam started.

There was a man by name Bhimaji Patil in Pune district of Maharashtra. In the year 1909 he suffered severely due to lung infection. The infection gradually developed in to tuberculosis. He took all sorts of medicines but to of no avail. He then approached Nanasaheb Chandorkar, one of saibaba's devotees and both of them went for baba's darshan. Baba soothed Bhimaji saying that allah will take care.

As per the directions of baba bhimaji was put in the house of one of the devotees. That night bhimaji had two dreams.In one dream he underwent the agony of the teacher punishing him for not studying his lessons properly as a student . In the second dream he went through the pain as a big stone was rolled over his chest. With the sufferings in the two dreams that he had that night his disease was cured and he went back happily to his place after seeking baba's blessings.

After this episode bhimaji patil used to visit shirdi at regular intervals for baba's blessings. He also started Sai Satyavratam at his house on thursdays.

Kakada aarthi ( This aarti is given at shirdi at early morning 5.15 a.m )

1.Joduniya karacharani thevila maadha
parisaavi vinantee majhi pandarinaadha
Asonaso bhaava aalo tujhiyaa thaya
krupadrishti paahe majhkade sadguru raaya
akhandeeta saave aise vaatate paayi
saandu ni sankoch thaav thodasa deyi
tukahmane deva maajhi vedi vaakudi
naamebhava paasahaati aapulyatodi

2. Utha pandurtanga prabhata samayo paatala
vaishnavancha mela garuda paaridaatala
garuda paarapaasuni maha dwara paryanta
suravaranchi maandi ubhi joudunihaata
sukasanakaadika naarada tumbara bhakthyancha koti
trisula dhamaru ghevuni ubha girijecha pati
kaliyugeecha bhaktanama ubhakeerthani
pathimaage ubhi dola lavuniya jani.

3. Utha utha sri sayinaadha gurucharana kamaladaava
aadhivyaadhi bhava taapavaaruni taarajadajeeva
geli tumha soduniya bhava tamarajani vilaya
parihi agyanaasi tumachi bhulavi yoga maaya
saktina ahma yatkinchitahi tijala saaraaya
tumhichateete saarunidaava mukhajanataaraya
bho saayinaadha maharaja bhavatimira naasaka ravi
agyani ahmikiti tava varnaavi dhoravi
teevarnita bhagale bahuvadani seshavidhi kavi
sakrupa ho uni mahima tumacha
tumhicha vadavava
aadhivyaadhi bhava taapavaaruni taarajadajeeva
bhakthamani sadbhavadharuni je tuhma anusarale
dhyayastavate darsana tumache dwari ubhethele
dhyanastha tuhmasa paahuni mana amucheghaale
paritadvachanaamruta prayasa te aaturajhaale
ughaduni netrakamala deenabandhu ramakaantha
paahiba krupadrushti baalakajasi maata
ranjavi madhuravaani haritaapa sayinadha
ahmicha apule karyaastava tujha kashtavito deva
sahanakarisile aykyuni daavi bethi krishnadaava

4. Uthapaanduranga aata darsana dyaasa kala
jhala arunodaya sarali nidrechi vela
santa saadhu muni avaghe jhaleti gola
soda seje sukhe aata bahutya mukha kamala
rangamandapi mahadwari jhaleese daati
mana uta veela rupa pahavaya drushti
raayi rakhumaa baayi tuhmaa yevu daadaya
seje haalavuni jaage kara devaraaya
garuda hanumantha ubhe paahati vaata
swarghiche suravara ghevuni aale bhobhata
jhale muktidwara laabh jhaala rokada
vishnu daasa naama ubha ghevuni kaakada.

5.Ghevuni pancharati karu babaasi aarti
utha utha ho baandhava ovalu hara madhava
karuniya sthira mana paahu gambhirahe dhyana
krishna naadha datta sayi jadochitta tujhe paayi

6. Kakada haariti karito sainaadha deva
chinmaya rupa daakhavi ghevuni balakalaghu seva
kaama krodha mada matsara aatuni kakada kela
vyragyache toop khaduni meeto bijaveela
sayinaadha gurubhakti jwlane tomi petavila
twadrutti jaaluni gurune prakasa paadila
dwaitatama naasuni milavi tatsvarupi jeeva
chinmaya rupa daakhavi ghevuni balaka laghuseva
bhu kechara vyapuni avaghe hruthkamali rahasi
tochi datta deva shiridi raahuni paavasi
raahuniyedho anyastrahito bhaktastavadhavasi
nirasuniya sankata daasa anubhava daavisi
naakaletwalli laahikonya devavava maanava
chinmaya rupa daakhavi ghevuni balaka laghuseva
twadrusa dhundhubhine saare ambara he kondale
saguna murthi pahanya aatura janashirdi aale
praasuni tadwachanamrutha amuche
dehabhan haraphale
soduniya durabhimaana maanasa twacharini vaahile
krupa karuni sayi maavule daasapadari ghyava
chinmaya rupa daakhavi ghevuni balaka laghuseva

7. Bhaktichiya pothi bodh - kakada jyoti
panchapraana jive bhave ovalu aarathi
ovalu aarati maajha pandarinaadha
maajha sayinaadha
donhi karajoduni charani thevila maadha
kaayamahima varnu aata saangane keeti
koti brahma hatya mukha paahata jaati
raayi rakhuma baayi ubhya doghi dobhaahi
mayura pincha chamare dhaliti thaayi chathaayi
tukahmane deepa ghevuni unmaneeta sobha
vithevari ubhadise lavanya gaabha

8. Utha saadhu santa saada apulalehita
jaayila jaayila haanara deha magakaicha bhagavantha
uthoniya pahate baba ubha aase vithe
charaatayanche gomate amrutha drushti avaloka
utha utha ho vegeseechala jaavuravulaasi
jalatila paatakaanchaaraasi kakada aarathi dekhiliya
jaagekara rukminivara deva ahe nijasuranta
vegelimdalona kara drushta hoyila tayasi
dwaari bhajantri vaajati dhol dhamame gharjati
hotase kakada aarati majhya sadguru raayaachi
simhanaada sankha bheri aananda hotase mahadwaari
kesavaraaja vithevari naamacharana vandito

9. sainadha guru maajhe aayi
majhala thaava dyaava paayi
dattanadha guru maajhe aayi
majhala thaava dyaava paayi

Sri sachidananda sadguru sainaadh maharaj ki jai!

10. Prabhata samayi nabha subharavi prabha paakali
smare gurusada samayitya chale naakali
hmanoni karajoduni karu ata guru prardhana
samardha guru sainadha puravi manovasana
Tama nirasi bhanuha guruhi naasi agyanata
parantu guruchi kari naravihi kadhi saamyata
punha timirajanma ghe gurukrupeni agyanana
samardha guru sainadha puravi manovasana
Ravipragata ho uni twarita ghalavi aalasa
tasa guruhi sodavi sakala dushkruti lalasa
haroni abhimanahi jadavi tatpadi bhavana
samardha guru sainadha puravi manovasana
Gurusi upama dise vidhi hari harachi uni
kuthoni maga he iti kavaniya ugi paahuni
tujhicha upama tulabharavi sobhate sajjana
samardha guru sainadha puravi manovasana
Samadhi utaro niya guru chala maseedikade
twadiya vachanoktiti madhura vaariti saakade
ajaataripu sadguro akhila pataka bhanjana
samardha guru sainadha puravi manovasana
Aho susamaya siya guru utho niya baisale
vilokuni padaasrita tadiya aapade naasile
asaasuhata kaariya jagati konihi anyanana
samardha guru sainadha puravi manovasana
Ase bahuta saahana parinajya guruchi krupa
natatswahita tyakale karitaserikamya gapa
jari gurupada dhareesudrudha bhaktine tomana
samardha guru sainadha puravi manovasana

Guro vinatimee kari hrudayamandari yaabasa
samasta jagahe guru swarupachi thaso manaasa
karo satata satkruthi matihide jagatpawana
samardha guru sainadha puravi manovasana

(Sragdhara) Premeya ashtakaasiphaduni guruvara prarditi je prabhati; tyache chittasi deto akhila haruniya branthi mee nityasanthi
aisehe sayinaadha kadhuni suchavile - jeviya baalakaasi
tevityarishna paayi namuni savinaye arpito ashtakaasi
Sri sachidananda sadguru sayinadh maharaj ki jai!

11. Sai raham najar karna
bachchon ka paalan karna
jaana tumne jagatpasara
sabahi jhut zamana
Main andha hoon banda aapka
mujhse prabhu dikhlaana
daasaganu kahe ab kya boloon
thakgayi meri rasna

12. Raham nazar karo (2) ab more saayi
tum bin nahi mujhe maa baap bhaayi
Main andha hoon banda tumhara (2)
maina jaanu(2) , allah ilaahi
Raham nazar karo ab more saayi
tum bin nahi mujhe maa baap bhaayi
Khaali zamana maine gamaya
saadhi akhirka kiyana koi
Raham nazar karo ab more saayi
Apne masjid ka jhaadu ghanu hai
Malik hamaare (3) tum baba saayi
Raham nazar karo ab more saayi
tum bin nahi mujhe maa baap bhaayi

13. Tujh kayadevu savalya mee khaya tariyo
mee dubali batika namyachi jaana srihari
uchishta tula denehi goshta namariyo
tu jagannadha tujadevu kasire bhakari
nako anta madeeya paahu sakhya bhagavantha srikantha
madhyana ratra ulatoi gelihi aata anachitta
jahoyile tujhare kakada ki rawulatariyo(2)
anateela bhakta naivedyahi naana pari.

14. Srisadguru baba sai(2)
tujhavaachuni aasraya naahi bhutali(2)
mee paapi patita dheemandha ho (2)
taarane maala gurunaadha jhadakari
taarane maala sainadha jhadakari
tu santi khsamecha meru ho (2)
tu bhavarna veeche taaru guruvara (2)
guruvara majasi paamara ata uddhara twaritalavalaahi twaritalavalaahi
mee budato bhava bhaya dohi udhhara (2)

Sri sachidaananda sadguru sai naadh maharaj ki jai!!!

Raajadhi raja yogi raja parabrahma sro saayinaadh maharaj
Sri sachidaananda sadguru sai naadh maharaj ki jai!!!

How Sai converted water to oil ?

Sai Baba was very fond of oil lightings. He used to go to oil merchants and ask them for oil. On fetching oil from them he lit the lamps for the whole of the nights. This went on for somedays. One day the oil merchants refused to give oil to baba. Baba then went back with out getting disappointed. He had a few drops of oil left in his vessel. he mixed the oil left with water and drank the same. He then spit the water mixed with oil back in the vessel and lit the lamps. The merchants who were watching all this from a distance were taken aback, realised their mistake and begged baba to forgive them. Baba then accepted their apologies and preached them to always stick to the truth.

How Sai came to Shirdi?

In Dhoop village of Aurangabad district (Maharashtra) there lived a mohammadean by name Chand patil. While he was on a journey he lost his horse. In the search for his horse he came across a mango tree and saw a fakir in its shadow. The latter asked chand patil to take rest beneath the tree for sometime. Chand patil rested under the tree and told fakir that he lost his horse and that he was in search of his horse. The fakir asked chand to search near the river and chand found his horse there. The fakir had tobacco ready to be smoked but there was no fire to lit the tobacco. Fakir hit the stick he had on the ground and there was fire. Chand then realised that this fakir was not an ordinary man. So he invited the man to his house and both went along to chand's place.

Chand patil and his family headed to Shirdi for the marriage of the son of his brother-in-law. Along with chand patil and his family the fakir also headed to Shirdi. They entered Shirdi and stationed their bullock carts near by Khandoba mandir. They started to get down one by one. When fakir got down Mahalsa, the priest of Khandoba mandir invited the fakir saying "come sai". All others also started calling the fakir as "sai". There after he was known by the name "Shirdi Sai Baba".

After the marriage the bride groom and his family returned to their place but the fakir remained at Shirdi.