Truth and Sri Shirdi Sai Baba

The below article on Sri Shirdi Sai Baba has been submitted to Arunachala Mystic by Mr. Bharath Kumar. To read more of his articles please visit his own recently started site at this link here. 

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Jesus Christ says in The Holy Bible "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6). Similar was the life of Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi. 

Sri Shirdi Sai Baba – other than mischievously and jocularly accusing devotees (whom He was testing) through His instructive Leelas, had lived the way of Truth throughout His divine Life. A few instances in this regard from His life are described here from the Sri Sai Sathcharita. 

As guardian and custodian of innermost details of the past of all who knew Him, He revealed these details at the appropriate times to help correct devotees and steer them to the righteous path –and never for boasting or for publicly showing off His divine powers. 

Truth is not just about communicating accurate facts alone – but it attains divinity only due to the noble goals for which it is going to be used. Truth is about freeing ourselves from the unreal samsaaric worldly illusions and not about revealing inner/private or irrelevant but accurate facts of everything or everyone – which leads to gossip-mongering. Sri Sai stressed on these finer aspects of truthful behaviour. 

Once, Shirdi merchants jointly decided to stop giving free oil to Sai and all of them falsely told Sai that there was no oil to give. Sai then showed them His divinity by lighting lamps with water. When the merchants sought Sai's forgiveness, He advised them not to indulge in lies and forgave them. 

Sri Shirdi Sai Baba at His Dwarkamayi

In one case, He intimated a person criticizing everyone (including Sai) by showing him a pig munching dirt and garbage and indirectly teaching him to have better control over his tongue (speech) in future. 

Sri Sai Baba said that in His place of residence (i.e. Dwarakamayi), no untruth was ever uttered. He also used to say that He would even give up His life just to keep His promises. This quality is akin to Sri Lord Ramachandra of Ayodhya (an embodiment of Truth with whom Sri Sai is compared to). 

Once, He scolded Nana Saheb Chandorkar (a close devotee of Sai) for avoiding and behaving high-handedly with a person requesting donation from him at his home. This incident, Sri Sai observed from Shirdi itself. Sai advised him to be truthful and polite to beggars/alms-seekers in future - whether giving asked donation or not. 

Sri Sai constantly reminded devotees to fulfill their vows to Gods and family deities – sometimes cryptically by sending them to where they had vows waiting to be fulfilled. As in case of Shama (a school teacher and Sri Sai's close associate) He directed him to go to a temple at Vani. Shama incidentally had a long-due family vow pending there – which he himself did not know! Same was the case of two gentlemen from Goa who forgot to fulfil specific money vows to God years ago in private! 

Sai also advised devotees to deliver exactly the items (whatever was entrusted to them) to be offered to Sai at Shirdi. Devotees were taken to task for mixing items and for toying casually with the money entrusted to be given for Sri Sai. 

If a devotee requested Sri Sai to have lunch at his home, Sai, if He did promise, always kept His promise somehow through various representatives who visited the said devotees at the appointed times – appearing seemingly from nowhere, but really master-minded by Sai's divine grace. 

In another case, a wealthy but miserly visitor who wanted Sai to teach him 'Brahmagyaan' (Supreme knowledge) in an hour while keeping a tonga waiting – was tested by Sai. Sai asked everyone around for five rupees money several times, but none had the sum. The miserly visitor heard, but kept silent as he was not asked directly though he had bundles of money with him. Sai told him unless he removes the attachment for money he had displayed, Brahmagyaan was difficult to attain. Both money attachment and Truth were thus tested here by Sai. 

Thus Sri Sai Baba practised and preached the righteous way of Truth steadfastly during his divine life. 

Sri Nannagaru visits Arunachala Christmas 2015

One of the best known spiritual Masters who visit Arunachala is Sri Nannagaru. He is currently residing at his Ashram at Tiruvannamalai. He arrived on December 23, and will be leaving and returning to his native place in Andhra Pradesh, in the morning of December 29, 2015. 

Below is a short extract of his narrative about a “pure mind.”

Sri Nannagaru is now 80 years of age

“One must have the grace of God to attain the highest state or the complete bliss state. Ishwara’s (God) grace is of utmost importance to reach the highest state. If his grace is not there, then all efforts may not be successful. The mind is the creation of God. A mind free from desires, greed and jealously, and which neither sees good nor bad, such a mind is known as ‘bangara manasu’ (a mind that is pure). Such a mind is given by Maha Vishnu.

Followed by his Andhra devotees to Arunachala

All the sadhana or spiritual practice that we are doing is to attain that ‘bangara manasu’. Our actions in the past affect us in this birth in two ways: the body suffers from disease;and the mind gets trapped in grief. Both disease and grief are fruits of previous actions (done in past births). So, in this life you must not keep recalling issues that have affected you. Leave them, forget them and move forward. In this life, do not be bothered about the past and the future. Future actions will take place as they have to. Thinking about them and disturbing the mind is not correct. Each one must learn to dwell in solitude (Ekanta Vasa) at least for an hour each day.

Giving Speech at Ashram, December 2015

If you face all events in life happily, slowly the result of the past actions decreases. Gradually you will gain supreme knowledge. Each task or work assigned by God to you must be performed in a righteous way. If it is not possible, then do not do it. As far as possible do not jump into other people’s issues. This again leads to ignorance. But you can do tasks for the welfare of others. 

View of Arunachala from Ashram

  

Feed and take care of old people and animals in the house. Think that the Lord has come in their form. This process is called seva or selfless service. Then the work does not become a burden. Through work you are glorifying God.” 

Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi - The Omniscient World Teacher

[With thanks to Mr. K. Bharath Kumar for submission of this narrative]. 

Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi was a rare gem among the thousands of saints produced on Indian soil. He showed that God was indeed ever-present and that God was working His Leelas (divine plays) even then - when the country was subjugated by a host of foreign rulers. 

In those confused times when people had to digest both the culture changes from the Islamic period as well as changes brought by the then-ruling British system, Sri Sai Baba came as a beacon for the country - carrying within Him the power of almost all Indian Gods - be it Hindu or Mussalman or other religions - as well as providing the unifying powers to help Indians during this severe testing period in Indian history. His yogic powers appealed to people of all religions. Sai treated all people equally, regardless of their religion, creed, race or social status. To many, He appeared as an Avataar of Lord Shiva leading a simple, austere lifestyle distributing 'Vibhuti' (sacred ash) to His devotees and practisings advanced yoga to maintain His supernatural powers. As Lord Shiva, Sai demonstrated full influence over all five elements of nature. 

To Christians - He appeared as Jesus often taking the Karma of devotees and healing many children by taking their disease unto Himself. To Muslims, He was a very holy Avaalia Saint who dressed in Muslim dress and resided in a mosque. Thus, by manifesting the quintessence of the Gods of all religions, and solving all their problems, He showed to all, that God is beyond the labels of any specific religion and that there were many different paths leading to the same God - ('Allah Malik' was His favorite phrase - meaning 'God is Master'). 

Sai's infinite reservoir of love was His notable quality and what He expected from all His devotees to evolve into - and this noteworthy message to humanity He practised well even amidst the oppressive British regime. 

Sai expected only Faith (in God) and Patience (in God's timing for answering prayers) as the only two qualities He expected from devotees. He showed that human beings are psychologically similar despite ethnic and cultural differences prevalent everywhere. 

Original photo of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba

Sai Baba was the ultimate destination where all religions intersect commonly and harmoniously and showed the way to shed outward social differences. He allowed all religions to practise their rituals in His mosque, and encouraged celebrating many Hindu and Muslim festivals together at Shirdi for many years. 

Thus, He bonded the two communities together in preparation for the freedom movement later. He also advised freedom fighter Shri Lokamanya Tilak that patience and silent sacrificial service will yield desired results and requested him to adopt peaceful means to achieve freedom from British rule. 

Sai Baba accepted all offerings from all people but continued a penniless Fakir's style of life donating almost offerings to the deserving. Sai Baba advised devotees to be content with whatever Fate or God has blessed them with and work out their bad Karma putting complete faith on Him (Guru) and their favorite God. 

Despite His "pluralistic" religious identity, Sai Baba was against religious conversions of any sort and asked people to continue following ancestral deity worship and time-honoured rituals as they had done for centuries. Thus lakhs and lakhs of orthodox people grew from just mechanical ritual worship to God-realization - which was His real goal i.e., to solve devotees' temporal problems and elevate people towards spirituality. Shirdi in State of Maharashtra is today a revered holy pilgrimage spot where people from all walks of life visit and attain peace and often find their prayers answered. Sri Sai Baba's assurance to the world that He is ever alive for answering His devotees' calls has been tested and indeed had proved true for a multitude of followers around the world. 

Moving towards the future as a globalised nation, India facing challenges on many fronts - factionalism between states, frequent natural disasters, border tensions, decayed values and fallen Dharma, wanton violence, aggressive growth at the cost of nature degradation, and expected climate change complications. Sri Sai Baba's teachings of fleeting evanescence of human life, focusses on the true goals of our precious human birth. These goals are the practice of contentment, leading a simple lifestyle, brotherhood and charity – which are all crucial for the world and India. Particularly in these times where the world is caught in a vise-like grip of sense-gratification and desire attainment at all costs; decreased belief in the Divine Creator; materialistic success as the ultimate goal; disengagement of average person's human spirit from compassionate feelings for Nature, God and the poor; aggressive "dynasty-building" agendas at all levels from bottom to top of the social pyramid. 

Sai Baba was unique in that He did not take many formal disciples or successors, preach lectures or mantras, or change His meagre 'Fakir' (mendicant) ways - even after lakhs thronged to Shirdi for His blessings. His ever-living and all-encompassing spirit and physical tomb-presence will carry devotees forward to face each day bravely whatever challenge the country and world gets to meet daily. 

Aum Sairam. 

Sri Siva Siddhar Mona Swamigal's Ashram and Temple

A few days ago I visited the Ashram of Sri Siva Siddha Mona Swami to check out the (almost) completed Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple constructed at the Ashram. The Ashram is in a peaceful spot within the radius of the power of Arunachala, however the road to it is circuitous and for ever twisting upon itself. Thus although the actual distance from Arunachala Hill is around 25 kms, the journey by road is more like 35 kms.  

It was very nice to be in the countryside and away from the hustle and bustle of Tiruvannamalai.    

Our road eventually led to the gate of the Ashram. And the first thing we noticed was the huge statue of Siva in sitting pose on the roof of the Temple. From the ground to the top of the statue, it is 54 feet.

On asking, Swamiji told us that the total cost for building the Temple thus far comes to 1 crore 15 lakhs (i.e. Rs.11,000,000). All that remains to be done is completion of the Temple flooring which is estimated will come to around Rs.10 Lakhs.

Projects for the further development of the Ashram and Temple will include the following: 

Purchase of adjacent one acre of land for development. Estimated cost Rs.20 Lakhs. 
Construction of Kalyana Mandapam Hall for Weddings and Functions.
Creation of a new Dining Facility.

In niches on the outside wall of the Temple are shrines dedicated to Lord Vinayagar, Lord Murugan, Lord Dakshinamurti and the Goddess Durga

Side view of completed Temple

Although the Temple was closed for mid-day, we were kindly allowed inside to take photographs. 

From left to right, Sacrifical Altar, Flag Staff and Lord Nandi

The Shrine of Lord Shiva, with attendant keepers at doorway

Background of Nandi is the Meenakshi Shrine

Shrine of the Goddess

Back of Siva Sannidhi representations of the 18 Tamil Siddhars

Outside the Temple is the Navagraha Shrine

Puja including abhishekam and aarti occur every day at: 

5.00 a.m. 

12.00 p.m. 

4.00 p.m. 

8.00 p.m. 

Each month special pujas take place at Pradosham (evenings from 4.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.) and at Poornima from 6 a.m. to 12 noon. The Poornima puja includes Abhishekam, Fire Homam and Anandam.

The Ashram of Sri Siva Siddha Mona Swami is set in a peaceful area. Currently 8 sannyasins are staying at the Ashram under the care of Swamiji. However there are a couple of rooms available for (ONLY) gents to stay at. 

Left is current Dining Area

Swami's room with curtain on right. Adjacent Office and Administration

Sri Siva Siddhar Mona Swamigal

Swamigal

Throughout this Arunachala Mystic website, there are postings describing the history and healing intercessions of Sri Siva Siddhar Mona Swamigal. 

Due to his earlier intense sadhana he was gifted certain siddhas including clairvoyance and powers of healing. An increasing number of devotees and pilgrims visit Swamigal at his Ashram to consult with him and receive his blessings. 

Now that there is a Temple at his Ashram devotees may also wish to arrange a puja in conjunction with their own needs in order to further bless their prayers. 

Pujas to support sankalpas can be arranged on behalf of interested parties. In this respect if any individual person wants to support one of the 4 daily puja, the cost is Rs.1000/-. 

To sponsor a 6 hour Poornima Fire Homam with Puja is Rs.20,000/-. 

For more information on any of the above please get in touch direct with Swami's Ashram. Contact details below: 

Sri Siva Jothi Mona Siddhar Dharma Paribalana Trust 

Sethavarai, Nallan Pillai Petral Village & Post, 

Gingee Tk 

Villupuram Distrct, Tamil Nadu 

Landline: (0)4145-295514

Your New Star Sign

Several years ago I learnt online that Zodiac Star Signs have been incorrectly miscalculated resulting in a missing thirteenth sign of the Zodiac—i.e. the constellation Ophiuchus. At that time I learnt my Star Sign (with all its attendant traits and qualities) is not the Taurus I used to check in newspaper horoscopes and is instead a more personally favoured Aries. Glad to know, as I have never thought of myself as Taurean! 

Anyhow recently the same story has appeared in a number of media outlets, so for all of you who like to check your horoscope Star Sign am reproducing the gist of the information below:- 

 

Previous Zodiac

To understand the zodiac you need to see the stars behind the Sun. They’re normally too dim to see in daylight, although you might spot them during an eclipse. As we orbit round the Sun, a different constellation appears behind it each month. Ancient astronomers named this ring the zodiac, meaning ‘circle of animals’. 

When the zodiac was devised by the ancient Greeks, people were assigned star signs based on the constellation that was behind the sun at that time. However the Earth is affected by the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun which introduces a wobbling effect on the Earth i.e. precession—in which the Earth behaves like a spinning top. The Earth takes about 26,000 years to complete this wobble and has resulted in the Constellations drifting by a whole month. 

To make things even more complicated there is a thirteenth star sign called Ophiuchus (the serpent bearer). 

Ophiuchus -- the 'serpent bearer'

The 13th sign Ophiuchus 

The Sun passes in front of Ophiuchus – the 'serpent bearer' – for 19 days each year. The astronomical zodiac actually contains 13 star signs – the 12 that we’re familiar with plus Ophiuchus. 

Ophiuchus was deliberately left out of the original zodiac, even though the Sun clearly passes in front of it after passing in front of Scorpius (commonly known as Scorpio) and before reaching Sagittarius. The reason for this is not known, but it may be because ancient astrologers wanted to divide the 360 degree path of the Sun into 12 equal parts, each one of 30 degrees.

Below is a list showing one’s correct Star Sign as calculated by astronomers/astrologers taking into account the information about precession and the “new” constellation Ophiuchus.

Your Correct Star Sign: 

Capricorn January 21 to February 16 

Aquarius February 17 to March 12 

Pisces March 13 to April 18 

Aries April 19 to May 14 

Taurus May 15 to June 21 

Gemini June 22 to July 20 

Cancer July 21 to August 10 

Leo August 11 to September 16 

Virgo September 17 to October 31 

Libra November 1 to November 23 

Scorpio November 24 to November 29 

Ophiuchus November 30 to December 18 

Sagittarius December 19 to January 20 

Eclipses: Observances and Superstitions

The Lingam at Arunachaleswarar Temple moolasthanam is “suyambu” which means it is self-created (not manmade) thus this Temple does not close during either lunar or solar eclipses. However after the end of an eclipse special rituals are observed at the Temple. 

Another famous Shiva Temple that doesn’t close during an Eclipse is the Kalahasti Temple near Tirupati. The reason being is that Lord Shiva at that place wears the Navagrahas as a belt at His waist and thus no grahan (eclipse) can do any harm. 

However as a general rule Hindu Temples close during Eclipses because it is believed that at that time strong negative charges bombard earth. As Temples are built to attract astral energy and positively charge devotees, the positive effects will be reversed during a solar eclipse. Another belief is that Murtis in Temples, have an external energy around them as a consequence of pujas, mantras and rituals and that the pull of the sun and moon can weaken that energy during an eclipse. 

Rahu

Legend of Rahu and Ketu 

In the 35th chapter of the Bhagavata Purana there is a legend explaining why Rahu and Ketu are responsible for all solar and lunar eclipses. In this legend the gods and demons were engaged in an endless war. Lord Vishnu persuaded them to abide to an amnesty so that the ocean could be churned thereby benefitting both sides. The gods under the leadership of Indra grabbed the tail of the king of snakes, Vasuki, who was used as a rope for churning the ocean, while the demons under the leadership of Vali held the mouth of Vasuki. The great mountain Mandara acted as the churner. 

Ketu

As a result of this churning, the first to come out was the terrible poison, halahala. It was voluntarily sucked in by Lord Siva, but he held it in his throat, the reason why Siva is also known as Nilakantha (the blue-throated one). Then out came Surabhi, Kaustubha, Parijata, Laksmi, the Moon, Varuni (the goddess of wine) and finally Dhanvanatari; the originator of medicine, with a pot of amritam, the nectar—which the demons ran away with. 

Churning the Ocean and Mohini

Lord Visnu acting in the interest of the gods transformed himself into Mohini, a beautiful woman. Dazzled by her beauty, the demons offered the pot to Her and asked Her to distribute the nectar amongst them all. However She gave the nectar to the gods. One of the demons, Rahu, saw through the trick and sat in the line in disguise. But before he could swallow the divine nectar, the Sun and the Moon detected his masquerade and reported it to Lord Visnu, who then chopped off Rahu's head with his Sudarsan Chakra. 

Because Rahu had already drunk the nectar, he remained alive in spite of his being reduced to a trunkless body. Since then Rahu has not forgiven the Sun and the Moon. And this is the reason why, every once in a while Rahu gobbles up the Sun or the Moon—which we refer to as Solar and Lunar eclipses. However being trunkless Rahu cannot hold either the Sun or the Moon for long, and they come out safely after a while. With time the headless trunk of the demon came to be known as Ketu, and the earlier version of Ketu turned into what is known as Dhumketu. 

Astronomically speaking, when the sun, the moon and the earth are all in line, with the moon or the earth at the centre, a solar or lunar eclipse takes place respectively. 

--- oOo --- 

In the case of both solar and lunar eclipse, if an eclipse affects the region that you are living in, one is directed to follow certain rituals prescribed by the scriptures. 

Eclipse Special Observances 

At the time of an eclipse, people are enjoined to bathe in sacred rivers, do charitable acts and donate cows, money and gold. The day after an eclipse one should feed the poor, Brahmins and Sadhus. After an eclipse householders are expected to clean their home and kitchen vessels, etc. One should not take food during the eclipse. When the eclipse begins the food should by then have been digested. A bath has to be taken before starting to cook after an eclipse. One should take food only after seeing the sun or the moon free from the eclipse. When the clear sun or the moon is not seen before sunset or sunrise, in the case of the solar and lunar eclipse, food can be taken only after the sun or the moon is seen the next day. 

Pregnant women should not see the sun or the moon during the time of the eclipse. Superstition has it that in the case of seeing the sun or moon during an eclipse, that a child born thereafter may be born with a defect. It is regarded as taboo for men and women to have physical congress at this time. It is also believed that one should take great care to avoid bleeding, scorpion stings, etc., as they have disastrous results at the time of eclipse. Even an earthworm has a poisonous effect when it bites during an eclipse. 

One should take a bath after an eclipse because it is believed that the earth is plunged into darkness during a lunar or solar eclipse. Darkness symbolizes impurity and therefore one has to sit in one place and chant the name of God. Once the eclipse is over, light returns back to earth; and to rejoice, one has to cleanse the impurity that darkness brought, worship God and offer donations to express one’s happiness. 

Those who do Japa at the time of an eclipse derive great benefits as it contributes towards relieving the suffering of humanity and also benefits the planets. As the blessings of the Gods is readily available at this time, the result of mantra is believed to be especially auspicious when chanted during the period of an eclipse. The spiritual significance of the eclipse states that as an eclipse is ended by a bright Sun or Moon, so too, ignorance will also be eclipsed by the attainment of self-knowledge and manifestation of the effulgence of Self.

--- oOo ---

The next Eclipse at Tiruvannamalai -- Partial Lunar April 4, 2015

Next Eclipse viewable here will be a partial Lunar Eclipse

Care when watching 

Permanent eye damage can result from staring or even looking at the disk of the Sun directly, or through a camera viewfinder, or with binoculars or a telescope even when only a thin crescent of the Sun remains. The 1 percent of the Sun's surface still visible is about 10,000 times brighter than the full moon. Staring at the Sun under such circumstances have the same effect on the retina of your eyes than a magnifying glass to focus sunlight onto paper, and eventually burning a hole in it! The retina is delicate and irreplaceable. There is little or nothing a retinal surgeon will be able to do to help you. Never look at the Sun outside of the total phase of an eclipse unless you have adequate protection. Remember, your eyes can be damaged without you feeling any pain. 

To find out about Eclipses in you region go to this link here.

Solar Eclipse March 20, 2015

Below is a map of the path of the solar eclipse on March 20, 2015. It will NOT be visible from any place in India. However we will experience a partial lunar eclipse in the first week of next month. And before that hope to post information about the spiritual implications of both Solar and Lunar Eclipses.

One very unique feature at such times at Tiruvannamalai, is that in most cases Temples shut during the period of an Eclipse but Arunachaleswarar Temple does NOT shut during an eclipse. The reason for this is that the  Lingam in the Sannidhi is Suyambu -- i.e. naturally formed not manmade.

For the time being all readers living in places that will experience the solar eclipse tomorrow please observe the below safety suggestions. 

Permanent eye damage can result from staring or even looking at the disk of the Sun directly, or through a camera viewfinder, or with binoculars or a telescope even when only a thin crescent of the Sun remains. The 1 percent of the Sun's surface still visible is about 10,000 times brighter than the full moon. Staring at the Sun under such circumstances have the same effect on the retina of your eyes than a magnifying glass to focus sunlight onto paper, and eventually burning a hole in it! The retina is delicate and irreplaceable. There is little or nothing a retinal surgeon will be able to do to help you. Never look at the Sun outside of the total phase of an eclipse unless you have adequate protection. Remember, your eyes can be damaged without you feeling any pain. 

Visit to Siva Siddhar Mona Swamigal

It was such a beautiful Sunday. The sun was toasty, and the sky almost violet in its intense colouring. It just seemed to right kind of day to venture into the nearby countryside and have a nice adventure and to give myself a treat. The adventure I chose was to catch an autorickshaw with a friend and travel into the countryside a short distance to visit Sri Siva Siddhar Mona Swamigal. 

As is always the custom as soon as we arrived at his ashram, at which ten sannyasins currently reside, we were offered tea. We decided to forgo tea and meals for the chance to take immediate darshan of Swami.

Swami was warm and welcoming and asked why it had been so long since our last visit and then preceded to give both myself and friend private interviews. After giving specific guidance and directions to us both, he sent us to the dining hall for meals. 

While we were eating our meal, Swami continued giving private interviews to the constant stream of visitors to his Ashram. He himself needed to take no repast, as he has been living on a liquid diet only for many years. 

Swami on his Verandah talking with a visitor

Visitors arriving throughout the day to talk with Swami

Samadhi of Sri La Supaya

Siva Siddhar Mona Swamigal’s guru was Sri La Supaya. Sri La Supaya was born on December 13, 1937 and attained samadhi on November 11, 2011. He hailed from Mahadevanmalay, Tiruvannamalai District. He achieved realisation around his 30th year. After his Guru attained Samadhi, Siva Siddhar Mona Swamigal according to his inner guidance came to this place and his ashram has developed accordingly. 

Top of Sri La Supaya's Samadhi a 3-dimensional Chakra

Uttarayana – Hoisting of Flag at Temple

The term Uttarayana is derived from two different Sanskrit words "uttara" (north) and "ayana" (movement) thus indicating the northward movement of the Sun. This movement begins to occur a day after the winter solstice in December which occurs around 22 December and continues for a six-month period through to the summer solstice around June 21 (dates vary). The raising of the Flag at the Temple at this time denotes functions leading up to Makar Sankranti (Pongal) to be celebrated on January 14, 2015.

During the winter solstice the southern hemisphere tilts towards the sun and the rays of the sun appear to fall directly over the Tropic of Capricorn. The southern hemisphere experiences the longest day and shortest night and the northern hemisphere experiences the opposite, i.e., the shortest day and longest night. 

Raising Flag at Arunachaleswarar Temple

The northern hemisphere now tilts towards the sun and the rays of the sun appear directly over the Tropic of Cancer. From our perspective on Earth, the sun has apparently travelled between the Tropic of Capricorn to the Tropic of Cancer, Uttarayana.The return journey is called Dakshinayana. 

Uttarayana means the end of the days of darkness in the northern hemisphere. The six months of darkness at the north pole ends and the six months of light begin. These six months of human time are considered to be one “day” of the Devas. The Devas awaken from their slumber and shower their blessing on us. 

The first month of Uttarayana, the pre-dawn of the devas, we spend euologising the Gods, with song, and prayer. We line our streets with the festive kolams as welcome to this wonderful period as we publicly display our joy. We strive to celebrate all that is important during this time like the viviha and the upanayana. We begin new ventures with the hope that the Devas witness these life passages of ours and shower their blessings on our efforts. Vaikunta Ekadashi, or Moksha Ekadashi is during this period, the dawn of the devas, when Lord Vishnu awakens to embrace his devotees and grant them moksha from the cycle of rebirth

Aldous Huxley describes the aspect of Lord Nataraja

The great writer Aldous Huxley (Brave New World, The Perennial Philosophy, The Doors of Perception, Island) describes the "Dancing Shiva" image of Lord Nataraja and its immense significance and comprehensiveness. 

Shirdi Sai Baba at Arunachala

Up until 2008 there were no Shrines dedicated to Sri Shirdi Sai Baba here at Arunachala. Subsequently in 2014 we now have a Shirdi Sai Baba Shrine on the girivalam roadway near Adi Annamalai, a Shirdi Sai Baba Shrine close to the Hanuman Temple on the girivalam roadway and a bhajan hall dedicated to Sai Baba near the Durga Amman Temple in town.

The below photograph (which dates from 2008) is of a crate with a statue of Sai Baba inside, marking the place near Adi Annamalai that has now become a Temple dedicated to his name. 

To read more about the development of the Temple go to this link here.

Crate on land in 2008

Sri Shirdi Sai Baba at what will become a Shrine and his new home

2014 Shirdi Sai Baba Shrine at the same spot

Inside the Shrine

Perpetual flame from Shirdi alight in the Shrine's Dhuni

Pepetual flame from Shirdi

Development adjacent to Shirdi Sai Baba Shrine, girivalam roadway

In the above photograph, taken a few days ago, one can see the development of facilities connected to the Shirdi Sai Baba Shrine currently underway. It does seems a pity that the facility is being built so close to the Shrine. 

Shirdi Sai Baba Shrine, girivalam roadway near Hanuman Temple

Bhajan Hall near Durga Amman Temple, Tiruvannamalai

COMPLETE SURRENDER TO SHRI SAI BABA OF SHIRDI 

[Stories from Shri Sai Satcharitha by Hemad Pant]

Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi stressed the importance of complete surrender to Him to many of His devotees during His life in the flesh in the Dwarakamayi masjid. He said that he who remembers Him always, meditates upon Him all the time with love and devotion, he will soon see Him and merge with Him. To the devotee surrendering himself completely to Him, Sai Baba said that He was indebted to him and will repay his debt by giving him salvation (i.e., self-realization). 

Sai Baba further said, a devotee worshipping Him this way, becomes one with Sai - just as a river gets to the sea and merges with it. Sai urges devotees to leave out pride and egoism and then surrender themselves to Him, always remembering that Sai is not all far off and is in fact seated in our very hearts! Moreover, if we practice surrender with the feeling that Sai Baba is all-pervading (everywhere, in every creature, and in immovable objects as well), we will attain oneness with Him for sure. 

Hemad Pant advises us that to take refuge in Sai's feet with the feeling that the Self and Guru are one and the same and this will help us realize goals and remove difficulties quickly. Sai Baba assures us: "If you always say "SAI SAI", I shall take you over the seven seas. I do not need any paraphernalia of worships...I rest there, where there is full devotion." 

A few real-life incidents of total surrender by Baba's devotees to Baba's feet are discussed below. 

1. Bhimaji Patel of Narayangaon, Poona District, came to Shirdi in 1909 with serious chest diseases and tuberculosis having lost hope of any cure. He surrendered to Baba's feet crying out in despair. Baba was moved by his tears, blessed him and then cured him by means of two dreams. Through these dreams, he made Bhimaji experience the exact suffering required for removing the previous Karma that resulted in this disease. Bhimaji's sincere surrender to Baba showed all that Baba came to devotees' rescue, and expected nothing from His devotees except remembrance of His Name, unswerving faith and devotion. 

2. Dr. Pillai, who suffered from severe thirst and Cholera requested Baba for a remedy. Doctors would have said that the remedy prescribed by Baba would have aggravated this particular disease (and would have said no) - but this was given with Baba's grace and the devotee's faith, surrender and hence cured Dr. Pillai's disease! There are many more several real-life incidents of how diseases were cured by unusual remedies prescribed by Baba. There are also cases where Baba's mere words of grace removed virulent diseases including poisonous snake bites without any medicines at all! In all these cases, the absolute surrender by the devotees and total faith in Baba's words contributed to the speedy recovery. 

3. In one example, Madhavrao Deshpande (Shama) tried a medicine given once by Baba without consulting Baba at all - thinking that it worked once and so it will work again! But in fact the remedy made the disease worse and so he realized his mistake and surrendered to Baba again and got cured by His grace. Thus it was the attitude of complete surrender that made the real difference here. 

4. Ratanji Wadia of Nanded, a kind-hearted rich businessman pleaded to Gods for years to bless him with a child but it was not happening. On guidance from Das Ganu Maharaj, he surrendered to Shri Sai Baba at Shirdi. Sai tested his true faith and blessed him with his heart's desire with several children! 

Sai Baba assured us that even after MahaSamadhi: "Believe Me, though I pass away, My bones in My tomb would be speaking, moving and communicating with those who would surrender themselves whole-heartedly to me". Nishtha (Faith) and Saburi (patience) according to Baba are twin sisters. Baba expected only the above two qualities from devotees. Total surrender to Baba means that our very breath and activities in day-to-day life should be intertwined with Sai Baba in our breath along with Nishtha and Saburi as our very eyes guiding us. Only such complete surrender to Baba will get Baba's response quicker. 

Today's fusion of all cultures and technology-driven fast lives, we are more and more dependent on machines, servants, and external factors so much and so a significant portion of our commitments are left to the hands of forces outside our control unfortunately. Thus total surrender has become more difficult to us these days than in the simpler olden days. The solution lies in practicing seeing Sai in all these machines and helpers and trying hard to make our lives as simple as possible and by surrendering all outcomes to Sai who is "The wire-puller of the show of the universe" as He remarked. 

[Submitted by Bharathkumar K. 

With reference to Shri Sai Satcharitha]